- Nintendo’s iconic game designer, Shigeru Miyamoto, remains committed to the gaming industry with no retirement plans on the horizon.
- Miyamoto has transitioned into a supervisory position at Nintendo, extending his influence beyond video games into areas like movies and theme parks.
- Expressing gratitude for fellow creators at Nintendo, Miyamoto is confident that his eventual departure won’t alter the company’s creative vision.
Shigeru Miyamoto, the creative force behind Nintendo’s iconic franchises like Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda, has affirmed that retirement from the gaming industry is not in his current plans. As a pivotal figure, Miyamoto’s influence extends beyond game design, encompassing supervisory roles and contributions to the development of popular Nintendo consoles. Despite his age of 71 in 2023, Miyamoto remains actively engaged in diverse projects, from overseeing the production of The Super Mario Bros. Movie to collaborating on the creation of Super Nintendo World theme parks with Universal. The legendary game designer remains steadfast in his commitment to the industry, signaling no immediate intentions of stepping away.
During a recent interview, Miyamoto was queried about the prospect of retiring from Nintendo, and the interviewer anticipated a negative response. Miyamoto indeed affirmed that he currently has no intentions of stepping away from the industry, emphasizing his enduring passion for his work. Rather than contemplating retirement, he revealed that his thoughts often revolve around the inevitable eventuality of his passing. With a smile, Miyamoto expressed, “More so than retiring, I’m thinking about the day I fall over.” Acknowledging the importance of long-term planning in the contemporary era, he reflects on identifying successors and ensuring continuity in the event of unforeseen circumstances.
Expressing gratitude, Miyamoto acknowledges the creative contributions of his colleagues within the company, emphasizing that he doesn’t consider himself the sole proprietor of franchises like Mario, Zelda, and Pikmin. He attributes the growth of these iconic franchises to the collaborative efforts of various creators at Nintendo. Despite being an emblematic figure within the company, Miyamoto highlights his evolved role, stating that he no longer feels the need to oversee entire projects or delve into minute details during their development.
Miyamoto has previously broached the topic of his eventual departure from Nintendo, asserting that his exit is unlikely to significantly alter the company’s trajectory. He emphasizes a collective desire within Nintendo, spanning both the executive and creative realms, to continue crafting innovative experiences. Miyamoto underscores a “shared sense” for the creative vision ingrained within Nintendo. Looking ahead to retirement, he expresses a hope that the teams at Nintendo will remember him as the creator behind some of the company’s iconic properties.
NINTENDO
Headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, Nintendo is a Japanese video game company recognized for its widely acclaimed hardware consoles such as the Switch. The company is renowned for an extensive array of first-party video game franchises, including Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Fire Emblem, Pokemon, and numerous others.
