Shigeru Miyamoto Altering His Role at Nintendo But Not Leaving Big Projects

However, Wired magazine is saying otherwise.

LATEST UPDATE: Wired magazine is defending its reporting of Miyamoto stating he's stepping down, in a statement to G4. Some, including Nintendo, are claiming that this was due to a misunderstanding, perhaps due to a translation error, since Miyamoto spoke in his native Japanese. However, Wired editor Chris Kohler says that the translator was Nintendo's own. “It was Mr. [Yasuhiro] Minagawa; who has been Miyamoto’s translator for a very, very, very long time,” Kohler said. “I did an interview with Miyamoto in 2002, and Mr. Minagawa was Miyamoto’s translator then. It is Nintendo’s translator, not ours.”

UPDATE: Nintendo contacted Reuters Japan and is denying that Miyamoto is stepping down as Senior Managing Director and General Manager of Nintendo's EAD Division. According to a Nintendo representative, Miyamoto will focus on training younger developers, "reducing his involvement" in game development but not eliminating it completely. The original story is below:

Shigeru Miyamoto is retiring as head of development at Nintendo...for a smaller position. The announcement came from an interview with Wired's Game|Life blog. After creating some of the most iconic games and characters in video games, Miyamoto wants to focus on small projects.

"I'm not saying that I'm going to retire from game development altogether. What I mean by retiring is, retiring from my current position," said Miyamoto. "What I really want to do is be in the forefront of game development once again myself. Probably working on a smaller project with even younger developers. Or I might be interested in making something that I can make myself, by myself. Something really small. In other words, I'm not intending to start from things that require a five-year development time."

Miyamoto already teased that he wants to start a new project in 2012 and hopes to show it publicly by year's end.

#Shigeru miyamoto #Nintendo #Ead

Xayvong

12/07/2011 at 11:04 PM

We're gonna get new IP's from Miyamoto himself, as in, the legendary man who brought us Mario and Zelda?

Count me in.

Matt McLennan Staff Alumnus

12/08/2011 at 12:12 AM

Color me surprised, I wasn't expecting this at all. Granted, Miyamoto will be turning sixty next year, so maybe being on the board of directors was limiting what he really wanted to do?

That, or he's putting the Pikmin 3 team into over-drive.

ShyGuy

12/08/2011 at 01:29 AM

Don't leave me, Miyamoto.

Julian Titus Senior Editor

12/08/2011 at 01:37 AM

This is good news all around. Let Miyamoto try out whatever crazy, casual game ideas he can come up with, and give someone fresh a chance to step up in Nintendo. Somewhere in that company is the next Miyamoto or Aonuma, I just know it.

Nick DiMola Director

12/08/2011 at 07:21 AM

I agree with Julian. This is good news. We'll get some solid work out of Miyamoto and he'll be passing on his knowledge to others around him. He's been doing this for years, but if it's his sole focus I expect it'll be much better for Nintendo and for us as gamers.

Matt R Staff Alumnus

12/08/2011 at 11:09 AM

Miyamoto: Looks like I'm still getting that pension!

Everyone but Iwata: (laughs)

Travis Hawks Senior Editor

12/08/2011 at 11:20 PM

"Very very very long time" = 9 years

Joaquim Mira Media Manager

12/09/2011 at 02:03 AM

Those are internet years, so it is indeed a "very very very long time".

PixlBit