Sakurai Chooses a Simple Life Despite His Fame
▼ Summary
– Masahiro Sakurai prefers to keep a low profile and wants people to focus on his games rather than him personally.
– He avoids self-promotion and frequently declines interviews to prevent becoming an internet laughingstock.
– Sakurai is known for his YouTube channel “Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games,” where he shares game development insights.
– His YouTube work earned him Japan’s Cultural Affairs Art Encouragement Prize for New Artists.
– Kirby Air Riders, his newly released Switch 2 game, is described as a chaotic racer with depth for dedicated players.
While Masahiro Sakurai is a familiar face to many through his detailed video presentations, the celebrated game developer consciously chooses a life away from the spotlight, preferring that players engage with his creations rather than his personal story. Sakurai consistently emphasizes that his primary goal is for audiences to appreciate the games themselves, not the individual behind them. This philosophy shapes both his public presence and his professional decisions.
In a recent discussion tied to a manga based on his career, Sakurai explained his preference for an understated existence. He noted, “My aim has always been to live quietly. I put significant effort into sharing my work with everyone, but I avoid any form of self-promotion. Ending up as a target for online mockery is a situation I’d rather avoid. That’s the main reason I often decline interview invitations. Ideally, people would just enjoy playing the games without focusing on who made them.”
Apart from his role as director of major titles, Sakurai has built a respected presence on YouTube. His channel, “Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games,” offers extensive insights into game development, serving as an educational resource for aspiring developers. The channel’s impact was formally recognized when Sakurai received Japan’s Art Encouragement Prize for New Artists, highlighting his contribution to cultural and artistic education.
His latest release, Kirby Air Riders, is currently available on the Switch 2. Reviewers have described the game as a “chaotic and frenzied racer” that also offers “considerable depth for dedicated players,” earning it strong scores and positive feedback from the gaming community.
(Source: Nintendo Life)
