One of Nintendo’s Most Important Developers Is Leaving the Company

by

For decades, Nintendo has been a leading name in gaming, starting with the NES which revolutionized home consoles. What’s remarkable is that many of the talented people who built Nintendo’s success have stayed with the company, contributing to games across different systems. This long-term dedication is a key reason Nintendo consistently delivers high-quality experiences.

Eventually, everyone will move on, and that includes the talented people at Nintendo. We’ve recently seen several key figures from Nintendo’s past retire or leave the company, leaving behind an incredible impact. This latest departure is especially difficult, though, considering how many successful games this person helped complete.

Nintendo Bids Farewell To Hideki Konno

Nintendo is saying farewell to Hideki Konno, a beloved game designer who is retiring after almost 40 years with the company. Konno revealed he planned to leave since July 2025, which may explain the special thanks he received in the credits of Mario Kart World without being listed as part of the development team. He began his career at Nintendo in 1986, working on Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic (later known as Super Mario Bros. 2 in many regions) as a designer and assistant director, and has been a key figure at the company ever since.

Kenji Konno made a name for himself as a game director with hits like Ice Hockey in 1988 and SimCity in 1991. He then led the development of popular titles including Super Mario Kart, Yoshi’s Island, Mario Kart 64, and Luigi’s Mansion. Beyond those, he contributed to many other Nintendo franchises such as The Legend of Zelda, Nintendogs, Animal Crossing, Fire Emblem, and F-Zero. Konno also spearheaded Nintendo’s mobile gaming efforts, producing Super Mario Run, Fire Emblem Heroes, and Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp. It’s currently unknown if Konno is fully retiring from the gaming industry or simply moving to a new company, but after nearly four decades of work, his impact on gaming continues to be felt by fans today.

Konno’s Departure Is Just The Latest Change At Nintendo

Nintendo has consistently delivered quality games, and a key reason for this is their long-standing team of core designers and developers. However, this also creates a future challenge: as these veteran developers reach retirement age, Nintendo needs to ensure its iconic franchises continue to thrive. Fortunately, their foundational work has paved the way for new talent to step up and maintain the Nintendo standard. This is particularly evident with the Mario Kart series, originally spearheaded by Konno, which has successfully continued with newer titles like Mario Kart World even as his direct influence wanes.

Konn, who initially directed the first games in the series, later transitioned to a producer role on newer titles. This let him continue offering valuable guidance while also giving the development team the freedom to create games like Mario Kart World with their own unique vision. Konn’s move also comes at the same time as the retirement of Kensuke Tanabe, a veteran developer who had contributed to franchises like Metroid.

Like other long-time Nintendo creators such as Shigeru Miyamoto and Eiji Aonuma, Koji Konno was getting older, and it was natural that he would eventually retire. While it’s sad to see him go, especially considering his influential work on games like Yoshi’s Island (a game many players, including myself, fondly remember), his impact on the gaming world will last for years to come. Konno’s legacy will continue to inspire players for generations.

Read More

2026-01-29 00:41