If you have been following the news regarding Nintendo's corporate restructuring, you likely saw the reports from May suggesting that Takashi Tezuka was preparing to leave the company. As one of the most significant figures in the history of the Super Mario Bros. franchise and a longtime collaborator with Shigeru Miyamoto, the news sparked immediate concern among fans that his four-decade career at the studio was coming to an end.
Fortunately, those concerns have been addressed. During Nintendo’s annual shareholder meeting held on Thursday, June 25, 2026, the company clarified that even retirement cannot stop the famed Nintendo developer. Tezuka is staying with the firm, though he is moving on from his previous duties as executive director.
A Transition, Not an Exit
Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa confirmed during the meeting that Tezuka will remain highly active within the studio. Instead of stepping away from the industry, he is moving into the role of Production Producer. This shift allows him to move away from administrative executive duties and focus his energy entirely on the hands-on, day-to-day supervision of game development projects.
Tezuka addressed the shareholders directly, reflecting on his 42-year journey with the company. "Looking back at the past 42 years, I can honestly say it was a wonderful and enjoyable career," Tezuka said. "In the beginning, we were hand-creating new types of fun that you couldn't find in toy stores. Today, game development has grown to a much larger scale, and there is a different kind of joy in creating things together with so many people."
Continued Dedication to Game Development
During his address, Tezuka expressed gratitude for his time at Nintendo, noting that the environment has consistently prioritized delivering joy to players worldwide through teamwork and flexibility. "I truly feel that working for this company was the right choice," he added. "Going forward, I will continue to be involved as a production producer."
By transitioning to this new, more focused position, Tezuka appears to be positioning himself to continue contributing to the Nintendo library without the weight of corporate executive responsibilities. For those who have grown up with his work on titles like Super Mario Bros., the news confirms that his creative influence within the studio is set to continue for the foreseeable future.