Nintendo themselves are also keeping quiet, but that is to be expected – the studio isn’t exactly known for being loud about their work behind the scenes, especially when it comes to a more popular project like “Super Smash Bros 4”.
When they have something more concrete to specify, they are going to speak up. Until then, fans should stick to forums and other forms of online discussion boards and watch over the discussions related to the new characters.
Even though they’re just fan talk and nothing substantial, it sometimes happens that fans have a more interesting insight into the game’s current state than one would expect, and a lot can be learned about its present as well as the expected future developments it will go through.
It’s not rare for more dedicated fans to actually predict some specific development around their favorite titles, and it’s also not that rare for developers to keep an eye on those forums for this reason precisely. Studios know very well that these discussions are happening and they can often get some interesting ideas about the future of the game and how they can develop it further by just reading what their fans are saying. Which, in turn, motivates fans to discuss the game even more and to share their ideas for its next updates.
I would be seriously surprised if Shovel Knight doesn’t get in. Also, Wolf seems very likely to me. I feel that the most important characters to have as DLC, however, are cut veterans; the characters that certain people loved and even mained, but got dropped for one reason or another. And they HAVE brought back many cut veterans, but there’s still Ivysaur, Squirtle, Pichu, Wolf, Snake, Young Link and the Ice Climbers. I don’t expect to see the Ice Climbers since they were dropped for technical difficulties. But I would seriously like to see the other six return. The ones I personally want to see the most are Pichu, Wolf and Snake. I killed with Snake in Brawl, and I like the character and feel his presence just added a lot to the game. Pichu… regardless of his reputation as the worst character in Melee, I main Pichu in Melee, whenever I get the chance. I do good with him and think he’s the most fun to play with. He could use a FEW alterations though. For example, his up-B (agility) ISN’T an electric attack so Pichu shouldn’t take damage from it. And as for Wolf, he was the only Star Fox character that I actually liked and used.
Despite my personal preferences, I am happy if any more cut veterans come back. And they just make the game feel more complete, don’t they? Cutting characters doesn’t add anything to the game, it TAKES from the game. So, I don’t care if they add more characters that I don’t use; I just won’t use them. But it does matter when they take characters away; they are taking away some people’s favorite characters and making the game…not as fun.
Nintendo is being really slow about this ballot thing, and they will probably announce the new characters near Christmas.
Newcomers that I would like to see are Dixie Kong, King K. Rool, Daisy, Geno, Impa, Hector (Fire Emblem), Gregor (Fire Emblem), Excitebike, Isaac, Egil (Xenoblade), Beautifly (Pokemon), Jeff (Earthbound), Poo (Earthbound), Paula (Earthbound), Samurai Goroh (F-Zero), Black Shadow (F-Zero), Harry (Teleroboxer), Chibi-Robo, Thomas (Kung Fu), Waluigi, Darunia, Leon (StarFox), Waddle Dee, Rick, Chef Kawasaki and possibly Bomberman, Frogger, Rayman, Knuckles, and Simon Belmont.