Smash Bros 4 re-introduces the home run bat

The news was confirmed in the Super Smash Bros Miiverse community, where Sakurai regularly posts screenshots from the upcoming Wii U and 3DS title.

"The Home-Run Bat in this game is black," Sakurai said in his latest post, highlighting the bat's new design, "and it's so powerful that your eyes might bug out!"

The bat is considered by Smash Bros tournament players to be one of the most powerful weapons in the game. Though most Smash Bros weapons can only be swung normally, the bat can also be swung as a forward smash attack (a more powerful attack).

When swung like this the bat causes massive knock-back if it connects, leading to a likely knock-out in most circumstances.

It can also be thrown, doing 20% damage if it hits, making it effective from long range too.

Although series lead Sakurai is heading up the latest Smash Bros. project, Namco Bandai is handling development duties with a team including producer Masaya Kobayashi (Ridge Racer) and director Yoshito Higuchi (SoulCalibur).

"All the top creators from Namco Bandai are gathered here to create a never-before-seen dream team for this project," Kobayashi said when the partnership was announced in June 2012.

Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS have not yet been given release dates, though they are expected to launch in 2014.

Read our Smash Bros 4 complete guide for our list of every announced character, stage and gameplay feature to date.

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