On 11th July 2015, Satoru Iwata passed away, with Nintendo announcing the sad news a day later. It was rather sudden to those outside of the company, and undoubtedly had a profound impact on many around the world that felt a keen sense of loss.
You can find our original features paying respects to Satoru Iwata at the end of this article, and in this case we're going to not only remember the former Nintendo President but also consider the early impact of his legacy, and how his imprint is still very much found on Nintendo's work.
Satoru Iwata was, above all, a gamer. As a business leader he also wanted Nintendo to be at the vanguard of expanding the 'gaming population', encouraging individuals of all types, ages and preferences to find joy and pleasure in gaming. That noble mission statement was not only key to the company's business in the cold metrics of profits and revenues, but spoke also to its philosophy and identity. Nintendo systems, especially since Iwata-san assumed the company Presidency, strove to break down boundaries and allow all to share gaming experiences together.
Critics would suggest - and not without evidence, in fairness - that for a period Satoru Iwata and his management team were slow to translate this goal into modern ideas. The runaway success of Wii and DS weren't matched by the 3DS and Wii U, with the former doing well in a tough marketplace but the latter struggling badly. Yet Iwata-san, after his illness in Summer 2014 and before his death around a year later, was perhaps at his dynamic best at this point. That period yielded key changes in the company approach that reflected his willingness to learn, adapt and seek new opportunities.
A key example was the partnership with DeNA, which has so far delivered Miitomo and is confirmed to be bringing us Animal Crossing and Fire Emblem apps next, with those new arrivals set to be more conventional gaming experiences. Mobile apps are and will be a vital part of Nintendo's business, and the current runaway success of Pokémon GO also benefits the big N along with The Pokémon Company, with both being heavily invested in the app's developer Niantic. Iwata-san had been resistant to Nintendo going into mobile for quite some time, but his adjustment and switch in direction not only significantly boosted investor confidence in early 2015 when the deal was announced, but continues to be a pillar in the company's future profitability.
Satoru Iwata made other key moves in the latter part of his Presidency. He spoke often of the desire to utilise Nintendo IPs in more effective ways - in terms of the direct impact on gaming we saw sponsored DLC such as Mercedes in Mario Kart 8, and the more important example of the amiibo brand. It's no coincidence that talk of Nintendo movies and TV shows emerged in Iwata-san's last year or so in charge of the company, and though the approach seems to be on quality over quantity, it's evident that the big N is keen to push forward with strengthening its brand in various ways - we've seen the Vans shoe/accessory range recently, and long-term there'll be a theme park attraction in Japan, also. After some years where Nintendo was arguably a little slow to capitalise on its brand power, it's upping its game in terms of merchandise and lucrative tie-ins.
Perhaps the most integral of Iwata-san's legacies is that on which we know the least - the Nintendo NX. Its conception and design came together during Satoru Iwata's closing period as company President, being provisionally announced along with the DeNA partnership in early 2015. Satoru Iwata spoke of the NX concept surprising people and changing their gaming lives, and current President Tatsumi Kimishima has maintained a similar line, emphasizing it's a new way to play games. When we do see the NX, presumably to be unveiled later this year, in many respects we will be seeing the final console concept developed with Satoru Iwata at the helm.
Beyond areas such as these in which Nintendo is continuing on with Iwata-san's ideas and policies, there are the intangible yet important aspects of his legacy. His imagination, creativity and love of gaming permeated through Nintendo's entire corporate culture, from the board room down to development teams. Tatsumi Kimishima, perhaps in the greatest sign of respect of all, hasn't tried to manage the company in the same all-encompassing way, but has rather changed the business structure to ensure that the right people maintain that gaming legacy. As Creative Fellow, Shigeru Miyamoto can keep those principles of fun and clever gaming at the core of the company's efforts.
Nintendo Direct endures, too, the communication format that brought us some of our most treasured Satoru Iwata memories. As NX is unveiled and a new console era begins, along with more and more mobile titles, we expect Nintendo Direct to once again become a regular part of our routine.
Satoru Iwata's legacy, much like Hiroshi Yamauchi's before him, with forever be a part of Nintendo and the video game industry. He changed the way we play games and who we play them with, and he did it with a smile on his face and with the desires of gamers on his mind. After all, he was the greatest gamer of them all.
On my business card, I am a corporate president. In my mind, I am a game developer. But in my heart, I am a gamer.
Our articles in honour of Satoru Iwata when his passing was announced:
Comments 45
Nintendo Direct's just aren't the same without him. I hope the NX is a huge success, his last gift to us all.
Iwata the person, amazing individual. Iwata the CEO of Nintendo? Well, we see where the company is at any more.
Thankfully for them they now have Pokemon GO, the best thing to happen to the company since Wii Sports.
Still very sad. It's something I try not to think about. He made mistakes but he was a real gamer and had more personality than most company presidents. He's left an indelible mark on the industry and won't be forgotten. He gave his all for Nintendo, right up to his death.
One of the saddest parts for me was that just a few days before this date last year, people were calling for him to quit, almost constantly.
What really hurts is that he died after a horrible E3...
Nintendo fans will never forget the joy he has help bring us over the last 15 or so years!
Hopefully his true successor can do some amazing things and not just ride the mobile market to profit.
@A01
If anything the revenue Nintendo brings in on mobile will only strengthen their core gaming experiences.
On topic, Mr. Iwata was one of the most influential figures in the entire history of video games. Even more importantly, he was a good person, you didn't need to know him personally to know that. I really wish I could have met him and had a conversation with him.
Still a great loss for the gaming industry, even though he made some errors in judgment here and there.
And quite sad to know that even if the NX will become a huge success, he will not be there to witness it, which by rights he should have, since this will be his last achievement in the gaming industry, so here's hoping it's going to be a good one...
It's upsetting how sudden and early Iwata's death was, he had more positives than negatives for Nintendo throughout his career. We will forever miss you Iwata.
I will keep on remembering him, and saying "Thank you for everything"
Already been a year...still actually surprised that he's gone. You may not have agreed with all of his decisions, but you cannot deny that he was really something. He was an absolute legend in the industry, was one of the nicest guys out there from what I've heard, and when you get down to it, he wasn't just some corporate suit: he was a gamer.
Rest in peace, Iwata. We understand.
@A01 "I still think the move into mobile is the beginning of the end for Nintendo and gaming in general."
I wouldn't say that. Would it be the beginning of the end for a subset of Nintendo die hards? Sure? But thems the breaks. I'm personally amped about the prospects of playing my favorite franchises on my smartphone in between NX sessions at home.
I still remember on that day when I was playing on my Wii U and my friend told me that he was gone. And then, I just, cracked. He was one of the greatest people ever, up there with Miyamoto himself. I wanted to meet him one day, guess that'll never happen anymore....
Wow, it's been a year already? It still makes me really sad whenever I remember.
My heart still breaks when I think about Iwata. He was a kind person with lots of charisma and soul. I mean, who can forget Iwata's banana's, the Reggie fight, or the iconic 'Direct' gesture? He truly was fantastic. Not to mention he gave us the best console of all time! (3DS)
I am still worried about Nintendo's future without him - though I try to remain positive! I hope we get to see more of Kimishima because so far he seems to be behind the scenes - I need to see more of him to make my mind up. Does he speak English?
Anyway, Iwata will be sorely missed and remembered forever. Rest in peace.
I think even though it released a year after his death Pokemon Go is going to become a large part of his legacy. The guy who was vehemently opposed to mobile and then fully embraced it. Miitomo probably won't be a part of it, history will forget it. Unless Nitneod makes a Miitomo branded tablet, though that seems like a poor choice of branding option.
http://www.cnbc.com/2016/07/11/pokemon-go-nintendos-comeback-begins.html
Wish he could be here to see the huge success that has, so far, been Pokemon GO!
He lived a happy life and definitely won't be forgotten.
Mr. Iwata looked very skinny at DeNA conference.
1 year passed so quickly...
Mr. Iwata, hope you smiling again on heaven
While the Nintendo team is preparing the NEXT Nintendo video games.....
We still pray for Nintendo. Please.... don't give up !
Don't let Mr. Iwata down.... on heaven.
Okay, then. Let's listen Family from Super Mario Galaxy for Mr. Iwata tribute...
@A01
I will completely sad if Nintendo become next SEGA.
I don't want Nintendo give up.
I will support them by my ability.
I don't even want to pay my attention to both Sony and Microsft anymore.
They just ruined the future of gaming with Apocalyptic adult games that just contaminated human brains with vulgar, violence, sex and profanities.
I don't even want to see Nintendo franchises bought by both of them. I see it looks like Nintendo being a slave for both of them. It will break my heart...
I will pray for NX , the next Nintendo project that can be a Savior of Nintendo. I believe in Nintendo. I know Mr. Kimishima has something inside his mind. Just keep pray for him, don't screwed up.
Sorry about my comments....
@Anti-Matter
I'm with you all the way.
Genius, mentor and alround nice guy his legend will live on forever.
@Anti-Matter Lovely words, I'm with you too ☺
In Japan people wear white to show they're mourning. So to show I'm thinking of him I changed my mii's clothes to white. I've never been more devastated in my whole life when I heard he passed. Mostly because I wanted him to know how much I appreciated my favorite console, the Wii U. Everyone just hated his most recent work, and still do for no reason. I hope anyone reading this will change their mii's clothes to white too. By the end of the day I at least want to see a few people on miiverse wearing white.
@Anti-Matter I 1000000% agree!
He left an incredible impression on the games he was a part of, and the people who knew him. He'll always be remembered.
@gatorboi352 Well as a Ceo he knew how to become the face of Nintendo as Ceo he also knew that catering to stockholders is not always good for the company even if they think he should've.
He was like the anti Steve Jobs.
Top bloke, big heart, great legacy, much missed.
@Anti-Matter if it was any other company I'd be scared out of my wits that'd happen. But they're Nintendo and they're stubborn in the best way possible. Even though I think they're starting to do better I know they will never go down without a fight. I just wish people would stop becoming these gaming zombies and only get satisfied at R rated content. Idc about 3rd party content on NX, except for the fact more people will buy it. And I think that NX will be absolutely amazing because it was the last thing Iwata-san worked on.
@khululy hmmm, yeah I dunno about all that. I don't think that is true at all, honestly.
@Moon Yes, Kimishima-san speaks English. I imagine he's completely fluent. He worked overseas (mostly America) for most of his 40 or so year career and was NoA's president before handing the job off to Reggie.
Iwata was such an incredible man. Just hearing his name still makes me tear up. Seeing him on stage at E3, hosting Nintendo Directs and just...everything he did was a joy to witness. He had such a great sense of humor...
He was also so important to HAL/Nintendo...I would say just as much as anyone else, even Shigeru Miyamoto. He was a gamer first, not a CEO and that is what made him different. I'm sure I don't have to say it, but he started as a programmer for HAL. Game series he worked on in that capacity include: Earthbound, Kirby, Smash...he also helped with some of the Mario, Metroid, and Zelda games. His colleagues talked about how brilliant he was at programing multiple times...he could code circles around anyone.
Oh and he worked on another series, one those of us outside Japan might not have heard of without him: Pokemon. He was called "instrumental" by Ishihara (the CEO of The Pokemon Company) to bringing Pokemon west. Hiroshi Yamauchi, Nintendo's CEO at the time, wanted Pokemon released overseas but Game Freak was working on Gold and Silver (which Iwata also helped with, along with Pokemon Stadium) at the time and didn't have the resources to do it. "But that’s where one man raised his hand—HAL Laboratory’s president Iwata...Iwata-san got the source code for Red and Green, and bam, read through it all, then began mapping out a course on how to make a foreign version for it". Quotes were taken from a translated interview 4gamer had with Ishihara. I wish he was here to see how well Pokemon Go is doing. He started the plan for mobile and he was probably the one that gave it the green light.
Sorry this is so long. I don't think I ever really said much about Iwata after his death. Like I said at the beginning, just hearing his name makes me start to cry...
The moment I read he had passed away, I was devastated. The effects of his passing are still very much felt today. And the nod to him in Star Fox Zero's credits still give me tears. One of a kind. Iwata, you're still very well missed.
EarthBound is a huge memory for me, really loved that game growing up. I know he did a lot more than that one game but I'd say it was EarthBound that I'll remember Iwata for most. Rest in peace, your fans still love you. Keep a seat for me in one of those arcades in heaven, can't wait to hang out there one day myself.
@Allspice That was all very nice and completely true. Exactly the same for me. I literally can't type or speak about him without going blind from tears. The only reason I was able to talk about him today is because I mostly know where the keys are. I'm still crying as I write this.
I have a ton of posts about him on miiverse, and I'm trying to get everyone to change their mii's cloths color to white. (In Japan people wear white when they're mourning)
Regardless of whether you agree with his "go big or go home" strategies, you'd have to have a heart of stone to not like Iwata as a person.
@Anti-Matter You win the internet sir or madam.
Rest in peace, Mr. Iwata. The world isn't the same without you.
Has it been a year already? Rest in peace, Iwata-San. 🙁
It was really shocking on the day especially only a few days before his death, they announced he was recovering and then all of a sudden...
@gatorboi352 Ok as a face I admit he was no Fils aime or Miyamoto but he sure was recognizable CEO who felt a connection with the product he made and promoted more than most CEOs I've seen atleast.
Stockholders think mostly about themselves and their money and yes CEO's do that too as they got a company to run but Iwata tried to maintain what made Nintendo big, afforadble well crafted fun that prints money!
As for the Anti Steve Jobs bit well... Steve was a jerk, Iwata wasn't.
Credit Iwata for rolling on with Nintendo's Quality of Life focus.
Pokemon Go is part of that QOL program.
Focusing on health (Physically getting out to catch pokemon) and technology based (Mobile & App)
Cha-Ching!!!!! $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/10/satoru_iwata_outlines_nintendos_first_qol_platform
@Nin10doh
Thank you. I'm a young man.
Kirby is my all time favorite franchise. It's strange to think that partially due to Iwata greenlighting the game that I now get to enjoy this series. I remember playing Balloon Fight and Kirby's Dreamland on the day that he passed. Thank you Mr. Iwata
Iwata was awesome. I'm still grateful for all the happy stuff he helped create for us.
I fondly remember him.
Satoru Iwata san`s legacy will NEVER die.
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