NOTE: I've reread the rules and changed my predictions a bit to include DLC.
I don't think we're getting all that much, but I have a blind optimism I can't shake. The choices that launch with the game aren't all that crazy, but predicting DLC is much harder. But hell, its a game, why not?
IN THE BASE GAME:
Returning:
All Smash Bros 4 characters + All DLC (58 characters)
59. Ice Climbers
Newcomers:
60. Inkling
61. Rayman (with some Rabbid based attacks)
62. Classic Donkey Kong (ie. the 8 bit one from the arcade)
DLC:
Returning:
63. Wolf
Newcomers:
64. Chorus Kids
65. Ashley
66. King K Rool
67. Shovel Knight
For the base game...
- Ice Climbers seem like a logical choice to come back.
- Inkling is possibly the most logical newcomer choice.
- A new third party, and one that links in with the rumoured Rabbids RPG, makes sense to me and all the trophies in SSBWiiU.
- There needs to be some absolute left field choice, even in additions such as this. I've tried to think as Sakurai-like as possible, and what I came up with is an old school DK. But really it could be anything.
Then, for DLC...
- Wolf is another logical return. Could see him being offered as free DLC for people that upgraded from the WiiU/3DS versions.
- I don't buy that the Chorus Kids on that roster were just completely made up, I reckon they were planned and cut, so I reckon they come back.
- Ashley and K Rool are very popular and I can see the development team (which I imagine will be working with Sakurai at a reduced role so that he can move on) wanting to guarantee big sales. Ashley mostly to appeal to Japan and Rool to the West
- Shovel Knight a bit left field but again very popular and seemingly having a good relationship with Nintendo. Not drastically different to Bayonetta's appearance, actually.
Tiebreaker: Other than stages from Wii U and 3DS, New Stages include Inkopolis, a retro-styled Ice Climbers stage, and the Battle Tree from Pokemon SM. Some of these might be DLC.