Nintendo's Takashi Tezuka retires after 40 years

Introduction to a legend

The gaming world is saying goodbye to an icon as Takashi Tezuka, one of Nintendo's most influential designers, announces his retirement. Tezuka has had an impressive career spanning more than 40 years at Nintendo, during which he worked on some of the most beloved games, including Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda.

The start of his career

Tezuka began his career at Nintendo in 1984, when he joined the company as a part-time employee. While studying at university, he first worked on creating sprites for the arcade version of Punch-Out!!.

In 1985, he became assistant director and designer on the iconic Super Mario Bros., marking the launch of one of the biggest franchises in gaming. His involvement in video game creation would soon leave a lasting impact on Nintendo and its fans.

Iconic contributions to Nintendo

Tezuka was not only involved in designing the original Super Mario Bros., but he also directed the first game in The Legend of Zelda series. He played a crucial role in the development of other major titles such as Super Mario World and The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, where he helped bring the iconic character Yoshi to life.

Throughout his long career, Tezuka also worked on games such as Super Mario 3 and Pikmin, and more recently served as producer on Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Pikmin 4. His collaboration with fellow Nintendo legend Shigeru Miyamoto has also been a major part of his career, leading to many innovative gaming experiences.

The farewell

Takashi Tezuka has announced that he will retire on June 26, 2026. Nearly two months after this announcement, he will step down from his role as executive director at Nintendo. He will be 65 years old at that point, which matches the usual retirement age for many Nintendo employees.

Tezuka is not the only veteran leaving the company. Three other board members, Takuya Yoshimura, Katsuhiro Umeyama, and Keiko Akashi, will also retire on the same date. This marks a period of change for Nintendo, as some of the company's most experienced employees since its founding prepare to depart.

The future without Tezuka

With Tezuka's departure, Nintendo loses not only a renowned developer, but also a piece of heritage tied to the history of gaming culture. As Nintendo prepares for a new phase, including the upcoming release of the Switch 2 and several major price increases, Tezuka's influence remains visible in the company's future games.

The gaming community is looking forward to the next generation of Nintendo games, but it is clear that the shadow of Takashi Tezuka will continue to loom large over everything he helped create.