Smash Bros. and Kirby creator Masahiro Sakurai says he’s “always wanted to live an unassuming life”

Masahiro Sakurai has been one of the biggest names in the games industry for years. A game director and designer, he’s best known for creating Nintendo’s Kirby and Super Smash Bros. franchises. Over time, he established himself as an important figure for Nintendo and is now preparing to launch his newest title, Kirby Air Riders, which arrives tomorrow on Nintendo Switch 2.

Thanks to his popularity, he’s received a manga biography titled “Masahiro Sakurai: Making the World More Fun with Games”, published by EastPress. The 160-page work, supervised by Sakurai himself, covers his childhood, the creation of his iconic games, and his legacy in the industry.

Speaking to Game*Spark in a rare interview, translated by GamesRadar, Sakurai said he was surprised by the interest in creating a manga based on his life.

“I think I’ve always wanted to live an unassuming life,” Sakurai says. “Even with [being contacted about creating the manga], I’m sure my response was something like ‘really?'”

Although he was honored by the tribute, he emphasized that he prefers, and “I try my best to communicate my work to others, but I refrain from trying to promote myself.”.

“I think it’s best if people just play games,” Sakurai says. “Instead of looking at who made them.”

With the release of his next game, Kirby Air Riders, on the horizon, he remains mindful of the image he projects to others. “Becoming a laughing stock on the internet would be problematic,” he says. “That’s why I frequently turn down requests for interviews.”

Kirby Air Riders launches tomorrow on Nintendo Switch 2, and early reviews for the game are already available.