With Nintendo celebrating big anniversaries for franchises like Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda, some of the company’s long-time and influential developers are beginning to retire or move on to new chapters in their careers.
Kensuke Tanabe, the renowned producer behind the upcoming Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, has announced his retirement from Nintendo. He revealed this news in an interview with Nintendo Dream, a Japanese magazine, which was then shared on the Weibo platform.
Kensuke Tanabe Confirms He’s Worked On His Last Title at Nintendo
According to Video Games Chronicle, Tanabe has stepped away from working on the studio’s games. However, he’s confident that Risa Tabata and the team at Retro Studios can continue development if Nintendo wishes.
Finishing this game took much longer than expected. I’ve also decided to step away from working on the series in the future. It’s currently unclear if a sequel will happen, but I really hope Ms. Tabata and Retro Studios get the chance to finish the story someday and provide a proper conclusion.
I’ve been with Nintendo for four decades, and Metroid Prime 4 will be the last game I create here.
We weren’t trying to make anything extraordinary, but rather focused on collaborating with Retro Studios – as we always do with Nintendo – to create a game that’s enjoyable for everyone, no matter how they like to play.
Hideki Konno Also Wrapped Up His Career at Nintendo Recently
In addition to the news about Tanabe, it’s now confirmed that Hideki Konno, the creator of the Mario Kart series, departed the studio in July 2025.
He announced the news on his personal Facebook page. He was thanked in the credits of the new Mario Kart World game and previously contributed to the downloadable content for Mario Kart 8: Deluxe on Nintendo Switch.
Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of Mario and Zelda, is still working at Nintendo. He’s currently collaborating with Universal on the Super Mario Bros. movies, and a new Super Mario Galaxy movie is scheduled to come out in April 2026. Nintendo will share more details about the movie in a presentation on January 25th. You can find more information about the presentation here.
Man, it’s kinda bittersweet seeing some of the greats retire, you know? I’m definitely hyped to see who steps up next – whether it’s someone taking over a classic franchise or bringing something totally fresh to the table. I’d love to hear what you guys think, so come chat with us on our Discord server! And hey, if you want to stay up-to-date on everything gaming, sign up for our newsletter!
Robert DeFelice
More from Robert DeFelice
Level Up Your Gaming News
App Store
Google Play
Read More
- How to Unlock the Mines in Cookie Run: Kingdom
- Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Remake: What Happens in Mary Read’s Cut Content
- Jujutsu Kaisen: Divine General Mahoraga Vs Dabura, Explained
- The Winter Floating Festival Event Puzzles In DDV
- Upload Labs: Beginner Tips & Tricks
- Jujutsu: Zero Codes (December 2025)
- Top 8 UFC 5 Perks Every Fighter Should Use
- Where to Find Prescription in Where Winds Meet (Raw Leaf Porridge Quest)
- MIO: Memories In Orbit Interactive Map
- Xbox Game Pass Officially Adds Its 6th and 7th Titles of January 2026
2026-01-24 23:18