Nintendo comments on generational transition for developers

Many of Nintendo’s top (or most well-known) developers have been with the company for a few decades. It’s tough to say, but they’re getting older as well. 

The good news is that Nintendo doesn’t seem to be worried about handing things over to the younger generation. Speaking about it during the company’s shareholders meeting last week, president Shuntaro Furukawa said the transition “is progressing smoothly” and he’s not at all concerned. 

Miyamoto echoed those sentiments as well. He also brought up how Nintendo has “a system in place that allows younger developers to take the initiative”. Miyamoto would go on to say that he’d “like to be able to hand things over to an even younger generation.”

The full translation of their comments read as follows:

Furukawa: The generational transition for developers is a very important issue for our company, but I believe it is progressing smoothly and I have no concerns at all. Nintendo is a company with many young, talented developers.

Miyamoto: Although I am the eldest director, I have no concerns and feel comfortable with my job. When it comes to developing new games, we have a system in place that allows younger developers to take the initiative, and I believe the handover is going smoothly. However, those of the generation that took over have now become older themselves, so I would like to be able to hand things over to an even younger generation.

Personally, I find that if I’m not creating things, my days become boring and I become unable to create, so I’m involved with mobile apps like Pikmin Bloom and new media, such as visual content.

In some cases, I will continue to be heavily involved in game development, and I also want to be actively involved in fun ventures such as creating new IP that can gain interest worldwide.