At this year’s Gamescom, gaming journalist Rhiannon Bevan from TheGamer sat down with Takaya Imamura, renowned character designer behind legendary Nintendo franchises such as Star Fox and F-Zero.
The conversation offered rare insight into both dormant series and their potential futures, as well as Imamura’s new creative direction with his latest game, Omega 6: The Triangle Stars, for the Nintendo Switch.
During the interview, Imamura shared perspectives on Nintendo’s classic franchises and the pivotal influence of Shigeru Miyamoto.
He revealed that between Star Fox and F-Zero, Miyamoto “holds deep affection for the Star Fox series,” suggesting that this makes a revival of the interstellar dogfighting franchise more likely than F-Zero.
According to Imamura, Miyamoto’s passion for Fox McCloud and crew increases the chances that fans will eventually see a new Star Fox game, movie, or another innovative project—though specifics remain unconfirmed.
Imamura also expressed excitement at the prospect of contributing to any future Star Fox adaptations.
He noted that he has personally reached out to Miyamoto, promising to collaborate if a Star Fox film were approved.
Expanding on the value of adapting games into different media, Imamura remarked that, unlike software tied to single-generation hardware like F-Zero on the Super Nintendo, films enjoy perpetual accessibility—ensuring that these stories can be enjoyed across generations, regardless of evolving platforms.
On the subject of F-Zero, Imamura, the artist who brought Captain Falcon to life, indicated that Nintendo and Miyamoto would require a compelling new gameplay concept or significant justification to prioritize a revival.
This sentiment underlines Nintendo’s well-known commitment to innovative experiences, rather than simply revisiting its back catalog.
Echoing this perspective, former Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé stated in a 2022 Venture Beat interview that Nintendo’s Kyoto developers are always experimenting and often revisit franchise ideas when inspiration strikes.
Fils-Aimé clarified that Nintendo seldom makes conscious decisions to retire franchises; instead, the right creative vision and timing determine the return of classic IPs like F-Zero.
Beyond franchise revivals, Imamura spoke briefly on the role of artificial intelligence in creative industries.
He emphasized that audiences value the human touch behind game development, suggesting that while AI can assist, a genuine connection relies on the vision of real creators working alongside or behind these tools.
Imamura also highlighted his current project, Omega 6: The Triangle Stars, which is in development for the Nintendo Switch.
Although the game has yet to receive an official release date, Imamura acknowledged the challenges of launching new intellectual properties in today’s market and expressed gratitude for the support he’s received.
Fans of his previous work may find echoes of the signature charm that made Star Fox and F-Zero classics.
With anticipation building around Imamura’s next chapter and ongoing speculation about the future of beloved Nintendo IPs like Star Fox and F-Zero, the veteran developer’s insights underscore Nintendo’s creative process—consistently driven by passion, originality, and respect for its storied legacy.
The conversation offered rare insight into both dormant series and their potential futures, as well as Imamura’s new creative direction with his latest game, Omega 6: The Triangle Stars, for the Nintendo Switch.
During the interview, Imamura shared perspectives on Nintendo’s classic franchises and the pivotal influence of Shigeru Miyamoto.
He revealed that between Star Fox and F-Zero, Miyamoto “holds deep affection for the Star Fox series,” suggesting that this makes a revival of the interstellar dogfighting franchise more likely than F-Zero.
According to Imamura, Miyamoto’s passion for Fox McCloud and crew increases the chances that fans will eventually see a new Star Fox game, movie, or another innovative project—though specifics remain unconfirmed.
Imamura also expressed excitement at the prospect of contributing to any future Star Fox adaptations.
He noted that he has personally reached out to Miyamoto, promising to collaborate if a Star Fox film were approved.
Expanding on the value of adapting games into different media, Imamura remarked that, unlike software tied to single-generation hardware like F-Zero on the Super Nintendo, films enjoy perpetual accessibility—ensuring that these stories can be enjoyed across generations, regardless of evolving platforms.
On the subject of F-Zero, Imamura, the artist who brought Captain Falcon to life, indicated that Nintendo and Miyamoto would require a compelling new gameplay concept or significant justification to prioritize a revival.
This sentiment underlines Nintendo’s well-known commitment to innovative experiences, rather than simply revisiting its back catalog.
Echoing this perspective, former Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé stated in a 2022 Venture Beat interview that Nintendo’s Kyoto developers are always experimenting and often revisit franchise ideas when inspiration strikes.
Fils-Aimé clarified that Nintendo seldom makes conscious decisions to retire franchises; instead, the right creative vision and timing determine the return of classic IPs like F-Zero.
Beyond franchise revivals, Imamura spoke briefly on the role of artificial intelligence in creative industries.
He emphasized that audiences value the human touch behind game development, suggesting that while AI can assist, a genuine connection relies on the vision of real creators working alongside or behind these tools.
Imamura also highlighted his current project, Omega 6: The Triangle Stars, which is in development for the Nintendo Switch.
Although the game has yet to receive an official release date, Imamura acknowledged the challenges of launching new intellectual properties in today’s market and expressed gratitude for the support he’s received.
Fans of his previous work may find echoes of the signature charm that made Star Fox and F-Zero classics.
With anticipation building around Imamura’s next chapter and ongoing speculation about the future of beloved Nintendo IPs like Star Fox and F-Zero, the veteran developer’s insights underscore Nintendo’s creative process—consistently driven by passion, originality, and respect for its storied legacy.