Nintendo UK is celebrating the launch of Smash Bros. Ultimate with a special live-stream event. At 10 AM EST today, Nintendo UK will be hosting a 'Community Manager Showdown,' with reps from Nintendo, Capcom, Bandai Namco, Square-Enix, SEGA, and Konami battling it out. This is sure to be a heated fight!
That's one cliquey group of Japanese developers. It's something I've mentioned before, I wonder if any Western developer is going to break into that club and get a character in SSBU. I had been hoping for the retail release, but now they'll have to be one of the five DLC characters. I've also said that Ubisoft deserve some recognition, and Rayman would be the ideal and obvious candidate.
For all intents and purposes, Shovel Knight being an Assist Trophy and Shantae being a Spirit should most definitely count. There was also Commander Video as a trophy in Smash 4.
Also, you should consider the contributions 2nd party devs have made to Nintendo franchises.
What the Donkey Kong Country series is now (including the existence of K. Rool) was with help from Rare. Dark Samus and Metroid's modern relevance is thanks to Retro Studio (also developing the recent DKC games), and Next Level Games contributed to what Luigi's Mansion and Little Mac/Punchout are now.
