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With 136 years of history behind it, Nintendo‘s story is a vast one. But it is above all the Famicom era, now some 40 years ago, that shaped the company into the cultural force we know today. The storied reputation the Kyoto studio has built rests squarely on the shoulders of a generation of creators who gave birth to franchises that are now inseparable from gaming history : Mario, Zelda, Metroid, and countless others. It is one of the most important chapters in Nintendo’s story, and its pages are turning one by one as the architects of that golden age quietly take their leave.
A legendary Nintendo figure announces his departure
Another chapter of Nintendo’s history is drawing to a close. In a notice published alongside its latest financial results, the Japanese company has confirmed the retirement of Takashi Tezuka, an absolute veteran of the Kyoto studio and one of the defining figures behind some of the most important franchises in gaming. His official departure takes effect on June 26th, 2026. His name may not carry the same immediate recognition as Shigeru Miyamoto’s among the general public, but his imprint on Nintendo is immense. Joining the company in the early 1980s, Tezuka directed and supervised some of the most celebrated titles of the Famicom and Super Famicom era.
Small games like The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario World, Yoshi’s Island, and A Link to the Past. More recently, he served as producer on Super Mario Bros. Wonder, one of the freshest and most beloved entries in the franchise in years. At 65, Tezuka has simply reached the age at which Nintendo’s veteran executives traditionally make their exit, a convention that doesn’t appear to apply universally, given that Shigeru Miyamoto, now 73, remains active within the company in an executive capacity.
A transition to a new generation
Takashi Tezuka is the latest in a growing list of Nintendo legends to step away. Over the past few years, the company has been gradually losing an entire generation of creators who built its identity during those foundational years. Earlier this year, Hideki Konno (Mario Kart, Yoshi’s Island) and Kensuke Tanabe (Metroid Prime, Super Mario Bros. 2 and 3) also departed. The transition is inevitable, but Tezuka’s exit ranks among the most significant to date. He leaves behind a legacy as one of the industry’s true legends, the man who helped bring some of Nintendo’s most influential games to life.
Source: Nintendo via GameInformer
