One of Nintendo's most influential designers, Takashi Tezuka, is set to retire this year after a remarkable 42-year career. Tezuka, 65, co-designed iconic games such as Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda alongside Shigeru Miyamoto. His retirement, confirmed in Nintendo's latest financial report, will take effect on June 26, 2026.
A Historic Partnership
Tezuka joined Nintendo in 1984 and quickly became a key figure in the company's golden era. Along with Miyamoto, he co-designed the original Super Mario Bros. (1985) and The Legend of Zelda (1986) for the Nintendo Entertainment System. This partnership led to the creation of classic titles including Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, and Zelda: A Link To The Past, which Tezuka directed.
Later Contributions
While Tezuka stepped back from direct game design in recent years, he served as a producer and supervisor on major releases like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Bros. Wonder. He also directed beloved games such as The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening and Yoshi's Island. Beyond gaming, Tezuka contributed to The Super Mario Bros. Movie and its sequel, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, which is the highest-grossing film of 2026 so far.
Changing of the Guard
Tezuka's departure follows a trend of veteran Nintendo employees retiring or leaving, including Super Mario Kart director Hideki Konno and Metroid Prime producer Kensuke Tanabe. Miyamoto, 73, remains at Nintendo as an executive fellow, but he is becoming an outlier among the old guard. Tezuka's legacy, however, is secure: his early work defined Nintendo's rise and continues to inspire generations of gamers.
