The Version 9.0.1 Update for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has removed a suggestive victory pose used by Minecraft Steve in an unlisted change.
In unfortunate news, Minecraft Steve’s unintentionally NSFW victory pose has been patched out in the Version 9.0.1 Update for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. If the Mojang mascot was to vanquish his opponent(s), the victory screen would depict him eating meat near his midsection in a highly suggestive manner. Some players loved it, of course. Others not so much.
Though he has not exactly embraced vegetarianism, Steve’s new victory animation consists of him eating meat in a more appropriate area near his head, leaving no room for the vivid imaginations of fans to run wild.
The update mostly fixed bugs and glitches associated with the Minecraft character’s kit, specifically the usage of the minecart, but it was this particular removal which caught the eyes of fans. It is to be noted that this particular change was not listed in the patch notes, but may be the most notable alteration.
https://twitter.com/Plun_Yu/status/1319090420664684546
*resells my nintendo switch at an inflated price for still having the unpatched version of super smash bros ultimate that has steve's meat out on it*
— 🦀 YORA 🦀 (@yoracrab) October 22, 2020
Steve was added to the Nintendo Switch fighter via the Version 9.0.0 Update and has proceeded to become a fan favourite. For years, fans have memed about the potential for his inclusion as the Smash roster continued to get more and more bizarre with the additions of characters like Piranha Plant, King K. Rool, and Joker from Persona 5.
When the announcement of Steve’s arrival was made earlier this month, a collective reaction of pure surprise was all the community could muster up.
Oh! This reminds me!
I interviewed Phil Spencer on Wednesday via Microsoft Teams, not long after Steve was added to Minecraft and people noticed this image.
I focused questions mostly on Xbox stuff, but, hey, Microsoft owns Minecraft, so I had to ask.. https://t.co/9sEV63NiHs pic.twitter.com/jzutJdAvVZ
— Stephen Totilo (@stephentotilo) October 22, 2020
In an interview with Stephen Totilo of Kotaku, the head of Microsoft’s Xbox division Phil Spencer commented on the evocative animation after being shown it, saying “I assume that will be fixed”.
It appears that Spencer may have enforced his will onto Masahiro Sakurai to ensure that the reputation of Minecraft Steve remains wholesome, but the memory of Steve’s meat will endure.