Following the retirements of Kensuke Tanabe (Metroid Prime), Hideki Konno (Mario Kart), and Goro Abe (WarioWare), another significant figure at Nintendo is preparing to step down after an exemplary tenure of over 40 years. Takashi Tezuka, working alongside Shigeru Miyamoto, was instrumental in elevating many of Nintendo’s most beloved franchises, including Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Yoshi, and others.
The veteran designer and legendary game director will be leaving the company at the end of this year. Nintendo announced during their investor report that Tezuka, aged 65, will depart on June 26, marking the conclusion of more than four decades of service at the Kyoto-based gaming giant.
Tezuka began his career at Nintendo in 1984 as a part-time employee while still a university student. His early work included Punch-Out, and he soon became a frequent collaborator with another Nintendo legend, Shigeru Miyamoto, on various projects. Tezuka was subsequently hired full-time by Nintendo, serving as an assistant director and designer on the 1985 hit Super Mario Bros., and later directing the inaugural The Legend of Zelda game.
Takashi Tezuka directed landmark titles such as Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, TLoZ: A Link to the Past, TLoZ: Link’s Awakening, Super Mario All-Stars, and Yoshi’s Island.
Over the years, he took on roles as producer and supervisor for numerous Mario games and other prominent Nintendo franchises like Pikmin and Animal Crossing. In more recent times, Tezuka has contributed as a producer and supervisor to titles including Super Mario 3D World and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Tezuka joins an increasing number of veteran Nintendo figures who have retired. Kensuke Tanabe, the producer of Metroid Prime, left after the release of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. Hideki Konno, a veteran of the Mario Kart series, has also departed. Goro Abe from the WarioWare series is now dedicated to teaching. Shigeru Miyamoto remains an exception, holding a creative position at Nintendo and guiding the company’s ventures into new entertainment avenues like film. Nintendo is known for its high employee retention and low turnover rates, a notable contrast to its industry peers.
