Nintendo is on the cusp of a major shift. The upcoming release of the Nintendo Switch 2 may mark more than just a new console launch – it could signal the beginning of a new era for the legendary gaming company.
According to Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang, former Nintendo employees, several high-ranking executives are approaching retirement age. This includes industry icons like Shigeru Miyamoto, creator of Mario, Zelda, and Donkey Kong, who is now 72. Typically, Nintendo employees retire at 65, but Miyamoto has remained due to his continued value to the company. However, in 8 years, he’ll be 80, and it’s likely he won’t be working at Nintendo anymore.
Other veteran employees, like Metroid creator Yoshio Sakamoto, 65, and Mario composer Koji Kondo, 63, are also nearing retirement age. Eiji Aonuma, producer of the Zelda series, is 62. This means Nintendo is facing a significant transition, with many key personnel set to leave the company. While Ellis doesn’t predict a mass exodus, he expects some will retire, and the company will need to find new talent to carry on its iconic franchises.
This shift will likely impact Nintendo’s corporate culture and the games it releases in the future. The Nintendo Switch 2 could be the start of this new era, but only time will tell.