Nintendo Veteran Hideki Konno Departs After 40 Years
▼ Summary
– Veteran Nintendo game designer and producer Hideki Konno has reportedly retired after around 40 years at the company.
– Konno’s career began with design and assistant director roles on early titles like *Super Mario Bros. 2* and *Super Mario Bros. 3*.
– He later directed major games including *Super Mario Kart*, *Yoshi’s Island*, and *Mario Kart 64*, and helped create the 3DS as a producer.
– More recently, he produced *Mario Kart 8*, helped run Nintendo’s mobile division, and worked on DLC for *Mario Kart 8 Deluxe*.
– This follows the recent retirement news of another veteran, Kensuke Tanabe, known for his work on the *Metroid Prime* series.
The gaming world is witnessing a significant shift as another legendary figure steps away from the console. Hideki Konno, a foundational creative force at Nintendo for four decades, has reportedly retired from the company. His departure follows closely on the heels of fellow veteran Kensuke Tanabe’s retirement, marking the end of an era for the iconic developer. According to a recent update on his personal social media, Konno actually left Nintendo in July of this year, though the news has only just come to light.
Konno’s journey with Nintendo began in the mid-1980s, where he started as a designer and assistant director on landmark titles like Super Mario Bros. 2 and Super Mario Bros. 3. His early work laid the groundwork for a career defined by innovation and a profound impact on some of gaming’s most beloved franchises. He quickly ascended from contributor to visionary director, taking the helm for genre-defining games that shaped childhoods and competitive play for generations.
His directorial credits read like a hall of fame list, including the original Super Mario Kart, which spawned an entire racing sub-genre, the critically acclaimed Yoshi’s Island, and the groundbreaking Mario Kart 64. Konno’s influence extended beyond software; he played a pivotal role in hardware development as the producer for the Nintendo 3DS, helping to guide the creation of the popular handheld system. Later, he led his own group within Nintendo’s Entertainment Planning & Development division, mentoring new talent and steering major projects.
In the modern era, Konno transitioned into senior production roles, leaving his mark on contemporary hits. He served as a producer for Mario Kart 8 and its expansive Deluxe version on the Switch, including the game’s downloadable content. He also played a crucial part in Nintendo’s strategic move into mobile gaming, helping to run the division responsible for Super Mario Run, Fire Emblem Heroes, and Mario Kart Tour. His most recent acknowledgment was a “special thanks” credit in the latest Mario Kart installment, a fitting tribute to his enduring legacy.
This news underscores a period of notable transition for Nintendo’s senior leadership. Konno’s retirement arrives just after reports confirmed the departure of Kensuke Tanabe, the esteemed producer behind the Metroid Prime series. Meanwhile, at Nintendo of America, new President and COO Devin Pritchard has made her inaugural public appearance, and former president Doug Bowser has begun a new chapter on the board of directors at Hasbro. The changing of the guard is in full swing, as the architects of gaming’s past make way for the creators of its future.
(Source: Nintendo Life)
