Takashi Tezuka, Director of Super Mario World and The Legend of Zelda, Retiring from Nintendo

Nintendo has officially announced that industry veteran Takashi Tezuka is stepping down from his role at the company. A legendary figure who helped shape iconic franchises like The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario World, Tezuka’s departure was confirmed in the company’s latest fiscal report. According to the “Announcement of Personnel Changes of Company Officers,” Tezuka, currently an executive officer, will officially retire on June 26.

At 65, Tezuka is concluding an incredible career in game development at the Kyoto-based gaming giant. Joining Nintendo in 1984 at the age of 23, he dedicated over four decades to the company. His fingerprints are on some of gaming’s most beloved experiences; he co-created the character Yoshi and directed essential titles such as The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island. More recently, he served as producer for the critically acclaimed Super Mario Bros. Wonder.

Throughout his extensive tenure, Tezuka worked closely alongside Nintendo icon Shigeru Miyamoto. This prolific partnership spanned decades, influencing not just the Mario and Zelda series, but also nurturing other essential Nintendo properties, including Pikmin and Animal Crossing.

If you haven’t yet, take a moment to watch this insightful rapid-fire interview we conducted with Tezuka back in 2019: