E3 2019 Direct: Nintendo Reveals Banjo-Kazooie, Dragon Quest's Hero Are Next Smash Bros. Ultimate DLC Characters

Update: Just as teased, Nintendo revealed the next playable character for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate during its E3 2019 Direct. However, there was not one, but two new fighter reveals. Nintendo kicked off the presentation by announcing the Hero from Dragon Quest XI, who'll be joining Smash Bros. Ultimate's roster this summer. It appears his alternate costumes are the Heroes from Dragon Quest III, V, and VIII, and he'll be joined by other protagonists from the series' history for his Final Smash. Then at the end of the Direct, Nintendo unveiled Banjo-Kazooie. The original story follows.

Nintendo has been mostly quiet about what it plans to show off during its upcoming E3 2019 Direct, but we now know at least one thing that will definitely happen during the livestream. Following the finals of the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate World Championship tournament this past weekend, the company confirmed that it will reveal the game's next playable DLC character during its E3 Direct today, June 11.

In a video message, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate director Masahiro Sakurai congratulated the winning team and provided an update on the game's DLC. "As for me, I'll be continuing my work on the next DLC fighter, and more information regarding that will be shared in the Nintendo Direct for E3 2019, so I hope you're looking forward to it," Sakurai said.

Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser also teased that fans wouldn't want to miss Tuesday's Direct. "I think many of you are gonna want to tune in next week to see what, or who, [Sakurai] may be talking about," he said. Bowser also announced a Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Online Open tournament, which will kick off this month. The four winners of that will compete in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate at the Evo 2019 championships this August.

Nintendo has already released two DLC characters for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Piranha Plant, who was offered for free to early adopters, arrived in February, while Persona 5's Joker launched in April. There are still four DLC characters coming to the game, although Nintendo hasn't revealed their identities yet.

Joker and the remaining four fighters are included in the Fighters Pass, which runs for $25 USD. Each of the DLC characters comes with a brand-new stage, as well as several music tracks and a handful of new Spirits drawn from their series. The character packs can also be purchased individually for $6 USD. Nintendo says all of Smash Bros. Ultimate's DLC characters will be released by February 2020.

Nintendo's E3 Direct presentation airs at 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET / 5 PM BST on June 11. In addition to revealing the next Smash DLC fighter, we know the broadcast will focus on Switch games coming in 2019, including Luigi's Mansion 3, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order, and The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening. You can find out when and how to watch Nintendo's E3 Direct here.

That wasn't the only announcement to come out of Nintendo's pre-E3 tournaments. Following the Splatoon 2 World Championship, Nintendo announced the date and theme of the game's final Splatfest event, which will take place from July 18-21. Following the Splatfest, Nintendo will release the game's 5.0 update. You can find more news and announcements from E3 on GameSpot's E3 2019 hub.

E3 2019 Conference Schedule

• Tuesday, June 11, 9 AM PT -- Nintendo Direct Showcase

More E3 news:

• New Xbox console, Scarlett, revealed
• Xbox Scarlett details: 8K, 120 FPS, SSD
• Elden Ring is From Software and George RR Martin's new game
• Cyberpunk 2077 release date announced
• Final Fantasy VII Remake release date announced
• Marvel's Avengers revealed