Retiring Mario and Zelda director Takashi Tezuka clarifies he’ll still be involved at Nintendo
Takashi Tezuka, the legendary Nintendo designer behind iconic franchises including Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda, is stepping down from his position as executive officer effective June 26, 2026, concluding a 42-year tenure with the company. However, Tezuka clarified during Nintendo’s 2026 shareholders’ meeting that his retirement from the executive board does not constitute a complete departure.
According to the shareholders’ meeting, Tezuka will transition to a new role as “production producer,” allowing him to continue his involvement in Nintendo’s game development efforts. Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa confirmed this arrangement, noting that Tezuka has been integral to Nintendo’s work since the Famicom era and will remain active in development.
Reflecting on his four decades at the company, Tezuka expressed satisfaction with his tenure, describing his work as “fun.” He highlighted Nintendo’s distinctive approach to game design, emphasizing how the company has consistently created original gameplay experiences rather than simply iterating on existing concepts.
This transition represents a shift in Tezuka’s responsibilities rather than a departure, enabling him to step back from executive duties while maintaining creative influence over Nintendo’s future projects. His continued involvement underscores his ongoing importance to the company’s development pipeline and creative direction.