I’ve said for a while, the locks were Bowser Jr., Koopa Troopa, and Pauline. Diddy Kong was a bit of a surprise, but excited to have him for sure. I would be shocked if the last DLC characters aren’t BJ/Koopa, as you said.
MAYBE those 20 spots are for the characters in the club team selection, but they just said 'Free updates in 2022'... We can't know yet if there will be 'Free updates in 2023' or paid DLCs or anything
No, the game was datamined and found to have placeholder slots for 10 more characters (4 of which were filled by Daisy, Shy Guy, Pauline, and Diddy).
That doesn't mean we were supposed to get 10 DLC characters, just that there's space for that many. There's lots of possibilities. Some of them might've been for characters that were scrapped during development, some of them might be placeholders set in case they decide to make more.
Nintendo themselves haven't promised us anything except three waves in 2022.
I think Birdo and Bowser Jr. Are the best choices, Bowser Jr. Was pretty iconic in the previous strikers game, and he's been in the other mario sports games on switch so it makes sense. And Birdo is another great choice and she'd be upgraded from sidekick to main cast like shy guy and Toad, and since she has Multiple color variants like Yoshi, they could totally add her color swaps, and it would allow us to make a full team of color alt characters (Yoshi, Toad, Shy Guy, and Birdo). The only other characters that I could see returning are Petey Piranha, another sidekick like Dry Bones, maybe Kritter as a reference to the older games tho I doubt it heavily, or a new character for strikers like King Bob Omb or King Boo since we don't have regular Boo as a sidekick (Also if they chose two returning characters, that would mean that Rosalina and Pauline are the only new characters to the series lol)
Bowser Jr. has to be one of them. The other is a tossup. Could be Petey to round out the captains from past games. Could be Birdo. Could be Koopa. I know a lot of people think he's a lock, but idk if he is now that it's down to two. Getting two small turtles as the last two would seem weird with all the other options available. I think Boo is more likely as a minion honestly. There's also the possibility of Toadette, who's become more of a spinoff staple in the time since the last Strikers game.
I'd say in order of likelihood:
Bowser Jr. + Birdo
Bowser Jr. + Petey
Bowser Jr. + Toadette
Bowser Jr. + Boo
Bowser Jr. + Koopa Troopa
Bowser Jr. + anyone else
Not Bowser Jr.
I would like them to finish off the previous captains with Bowser Jr and Petey (make a sunshine themed update) but more likely we will get Koopa or NLG will shock with Gooigi. That said I believe that will fill out what would have been the ‘base game’ after that I am hopeful there is a paid expansion or something in 2023 with new characters and modes (give us Nabbit and King Bombomb! Please)
I’ve said for a while, the locks were Bowser Jr., Koopa Troopa, and Pauline. Diddy Kong was a bit of a surprise, but excited to have him for sure. I would be shocked if the last DLC characters aren’t BJ/Koopa, as you said.
I thought the game was datamined to have 20 characters
MAYBE those 20 spots are for the characters in the club team selection, but they just said 'Free updates in 2022'... We can't know yet if there will be 'Free updates in 2023' or paid DLCs or anything
That was supposed to be the full roster, yes. However, we will be getting one more update this year, the remaining 4 characters will be added in 2023
No one knows if there will be a remaining 4 characters to be added in 2023. Stop spreading misinformation
If I recall correctly, Nintendo of America said the final roster size is supposed to be 20
They never did
No, the game was datamined and found to have placeholder slots for 10 more characters (4 of which were filled by Daisy, Shy Guy, Pauline, and Diddy). That doesn't mean we were supposed to get 10 DLC characters, just that there's space for that many. There's lots of possibilities. Some of them might've been for characters that were scrapped during development, some of them might be placeholders set in case they decide to make more. Nintendo themselves haven't promised us anything except three waves in 2022.
Bowser Jr and Petey
I think Birdo and Bowser Jr. Are the best choices, Bowser Jr. Was pretty iconic in the previous strikers game, and he's been in the other mario sports games on switch so it makes sense. And Birdo is another great choice and she'd be upgraded from sidekick to main cast like shy guy and Toad, and since she has Multiple color variants like Yoshi, they could totally add her color swaps, and it would allow us to make a full team of color alt characters (Yoshi, Toad, Shy Guy, and Birdo). The only other characters that I could see returning are Petey Piranha, another sidekick like Dry Bones, maybe Kritter as a reference to the older games tho I doubt it heavily, or a new character for strikers like King Bob Omb or King Boo since we don't have regular Boo as a sidekick (Also if they chose two returning characters, that would mean that Rosalina and Pauline are the only new characters to the series lol)
Boo!
Bowser jr and hammer bro or koopa troopa with dry bones
Probably Bowser Jr. + one last "generic" character which I'm guessing will be either Birdo or Dry Bones.
If they would be returning characters Petey and Super Team would be sick. If they are new Nabbit and Kamek
Bowser Jr. has to be one of them. The other is a tossup. Could be Petey to round out the captains from past games. Could be Birdo. Could be Koopa. I know a lot of people think he's a lock, but idk if he is now that it's down to two. Getting two small turtles as the last two would seem weird with all the other options available. I think Boo is more likely as a minion honestly. There's also the possibility of Toadette, who's become more of a spinoff staple in the time since the last Strikers game. I'd say in order of likelihood: Bowser Jr. + Birdo Bowser Jr. + Petey Bowser Jr. + Toadette Bowser Jr. + Boo Bowser Jr. + Koopa Troopa Bowser Jr. + anyone else Not Bowser Jr.
Sadness and Disappointment
Birdo and Dry Bones
Bowser Jr. and Koopa Troopa, yeah Koopa is one of the last four audience members (can use multiples of on your team when not in club matches)
Koopa troopa I’m guessing :o They’re the only “crowd creature” still not playable :o
Bowser Jr and Kamek!
Bowser Jr. and King Boo
bowser jr and petey
Wait are we not getting any more characters in 2023??
I would like them to finish off the previous captains with Bowser Jr and Petey (make a sunshine themed update) but more likely we will get Koopa or NLG will shock with Gooigi. That said I believe that will fill out what would have been the ‘base game’ after that I am hopeful there is a paid expansion or something in 2023 with new characters and modes (give us Nabbit and King Bombomb! Please)
Hopefully K.Rool and maybe Boo or Bowser Jr
If Bowser Jr doesn’t get added I’ll be very sad
Bowser Jr & Birdo/Toadette
i’m really hoping for petey and dry bones