Longtime Nintendo Producer Leaves After Nearly 40 Years

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After almost 40 years with Nintendo, producer Hideki Konno, known for his work on popular games like Mario Kart and Yoshi’s Island, has reportedly retired. Nintendo has a rich history of talented creators – including industry icons like Shigeru Miyamoto and Satoru Iwata – who have significantly impacted gaming. Many others, such as Masahiro Sakurai, are closely associated with the company. Now, fans are saying farewell to another of Nintendo’s most cherished producers.

So, I just heard the news and I’m a little bummed. Hideki Konno, who’s been at Nintendo for almost 40 years, has retired. Seriously, this guy was a legend! He started way back in 1986 helping out on Super Mario Bros. 2 and 3. But he really made his mark on the Mario universe with Mario Kart – he directed or produced almost every single one! Plus, he was the director behind awesome games like Yoshi’s Island and Luigi’s Mansion. It’s the end of an era, and I’m going to miss seeing his name in the credits.

Longtime Nintendo Producer Hideki Konno Has Retired

Fans recently discovered that Hideki Konno, a long-time director at Nintendo, left the company in July 2025. Users on the Famiboards forum spotted the news on Konno’s Facebook page. His departure after almost 40 years came as a surprise, as neither he nor Nintendo made an official announcement. While the reason for his leaving wasn’t stated, many believe he retired, especially considering he turned 60 in May 2025.

Hideki Konno isn’t the only long-time Nintendo employee recently retiring. Kensuke Tanabe, who produced the Metroid series, has also announced his departure. He confirmed that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond was his final project with the company. Like Konno, Tanabe began his career with Super Mario Bros. 2, joining Nintendo in 1987, just a year later. Throughout his nearly 37 years with Nintendo, Tanabe contributed to over 150 games, including titles from the Pokémon and Super Smash Bros. franchises.

Image via Nintendo

Nintendo Could Be Entering A New Era

As a big Nintendo fan, I’m a little shaken up by some recent news! It feels like a real changing of the guard with Hideki Konno and Kensuke Tanabe leaving. It sounds like Nintendo is going to be relying more on its up-and-coming creators, which could be exciting. I was really interested to hear that Tanabe-san actually suggested Risa Tabata, who worked on Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, to take over if they ever make another Metroid Prime game – that’s a great sign! And it seems Konno-san had already started to step back from Mario Kart before retiring, just getting a thank you in the credits of Mario Kart World. To top it off, Doug Bowser is stepping down as president of Nintendo of America after six years – that’s a huge change after all this time! It definitely feels like a new era is beginning.

Image via Nintendo

Hideki Konno is leaving Nintendo after a remarkable career that helped shape some of its most popular franchises. He played a key role in the success of the Mario Kart series, from the original Super Mario Kart to the hugely popular Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. He also helped create the Luigi’s Mansion games, which have become a favorite among Nintendo fans. Konno’s departure marks the loss of a beloved producer who brought joy to gamers around the world.

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2026-01-26 03:39