“I Wanted To Challenge Myself” - Former WarioWare Director Talks Life After Nintendo
Goro Abe, a veteran director and creative force behind Nintendo’s WarioWare franchise, has left the company after decades to pursue a new chapter. The acclaimed developer joined Osaka Electro-Communication University as a teaching faculty member, marking a significant shift in his career trajectory.
In an interview with Video Games Chronicle, Abe explained the reasoning behind his departure. “Making games takes a lot of time, and I knew that based on my age and career that I could not make that many more games in the future,” he stated. “And I wanted to challenge myself to do other stuff.” The move reflects Abe’s desire to explore new horizons beyond game development while he still has the opportunity to do so.
Despite stepping away from Nintendo, Abe remains passionate about games and the creative process. His new role at the university represents not an abandonment of the industry, but rather a transition into mentoring the next generation of developers and exploring alternative creative pursuits. The shift comes after Abe’s long tenure at Nintendo, during which he contributed to the legendary WarioWare series and numerous other titles that shaped the company’s creative legacy.