- Mario creator and Nintendo veteran Shigeru Miyamoto says he doesn’t like to focus too much on finances when making games.
- The developer believes losing talent is a massive failure, especially when teams chase short-term success.
- Nintendo’s approach differs from the industry since the gaming giant prioritizes creativity above all else.
Following the massive uptick in hirings related to game development from a few years ago, the industry continues to struggle with layoffs. A gaming giant like PlayStation has shut down Bluepoint Games, and Xbox is the latest to let go of 3,000+ game developers.
Nintendo, which has been much better off in this regard, recently commented on the situation. One of the key individuals behind the company’s success notes that wasting industry talent as many recently have feels like a failure.
Why it matters: While many have been closing down studios and laying off developers, Nintendo has ramped up its hiring efforts.
Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto spoke to Famitsu (via Resetera) and shared his thoughts on market trends and the focus on economics within the games industry.
He outlined that focusing too much on numbers and metrics leads to a mindset that can handicap the development process. He believes, therefore, that it’s important to focus more on fun and creativity when starting out with making a game.
The Mario creator also acknowledged the absurdity of a character like Mario being one of gaming’s most iconic. However, he suggests that the original Mario titles being so fun played a major role in making the character beloved among audiences.
Addressing the ongoing trend of layoffs, Shigeru Miyamoto highlighted the importance of retaining talent within the industry. He admitted that teams pursuing short-term gains or break-even figures while sacrificing key talent feels like a failure of the industry.
To me, if you’ve burned through the talents of so many people just to achieve that, that feels like a massive failure.
-Shigeru Miyamoto
Shigeru Miyamoto’s philosophy runs deep into Nintendo’s approach to game development, so it comes as no surprise that the gaming giant typically does lose its developers like Western teams.
This is perhaps why many associate Nintendo with fun and creative games compared to others in the industry.
Do you agree with the legendary game designer? Share your thoughts on the industry’s current state in the comments and on the Tech4Gamers Forums.
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[Senior News Reporter]
Avinash is currently pursuing a Business degree in Australia. For more than 5 years, he has been working as a gaming journalist, utilizing his writing skills and love for gaming to report on the latest updates in the industry. Avinash loves to play action games like Devil May Cry and has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as IGN, GamesRadar, GameRant, Dualshockers, CBR, and Gamespot.
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