Nintendo Loses Industry Icon: Hideki Konno Leaves Company After Nearly 40 Years
The video game industry is marking the end of an era with the departure of Hideki Konno, a veteran designer and producer whose four decades at Nintendo helped shape some of the company’s most iconic franchises and hardware.
According to verified information from his personal Facebook page, Konno exited Nintendo in July 2023, quietly concluding a distinguished career that began in 1986. A Career Spanning Super Mario Bros.
2 to Nintendo 3DS Hideki Konno’s journey at Nintendo started as a designer on the classic Super Mario Bros.
2.
His swift rise within the company soon placed him at the creative helm of numerous landmark franchises—most notably as director of Super Mario Kart and later as a producer for subsequent Mario Kart entries.
In recent years, Kosuke Yabuki assumed the producer role for the series, beginning with Mario Kart 8, but Konno’s legacy remains deeply embedded within the franchise’s DNA. Konno also left a lasting mark as the director of Luigi’s Mansion for the Nintendo GameCube, a game praised for its innovative mechanics and unique tonal direction.
His influence extended beyond software, as he played a pivotal role as producer of the Nintendo 3DS, helping steer the handheld’s development and subsequent global success in the competitive portable gaming market. Leading Nintendo’s Mobile Strategy As gaming evolved to encompass mobile platforms, Hideki Konno became Nintendo’s general producer of mobile development.
He was instrumental in launching applications and games such as Miitomo, Dr.
Mario World, Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, Super Mario Run, Fire Emblem Heroes, and Mario Kart Tour.
These titles expanded Nintendo’s reach and helped bridge the gap between established console gamers and a broader, mobile-focused audience. Verifying Konno’s Departure While news of his departure is only now becoming widespread, a private status update on Konno’s personal social media confirms he left Nintendo last July.
Out of respect for his privacy, details beyond this confirmation remain limited.
The quiet timing of his exit stands in contrast to the attention his projects have received over the years on the Nintendo Switch, 3DS, and the eShop. A Period of Transition for Nintendo Leadership Konno’s departure is not occurring in isolation.
In the same week, reports surfaced of another major figure, Kensuke Tanabe, announcing that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond would be his last project with Nintendo—underscoring an ongoing period of transition within the company’s revered development teams. Konno’s enduring impact on Nintendo’s game development, hardware innovation, and mobile strategy cements him as one of the company’s most influential contributors.
As the industry reflects on his impressive legacy, fans and peers alike recognize the significant role he played in shaping Nintendo’s creative direction and global success.
According to verified information from his personal Facebook page, Konno exited Nintendo in July 2023, quietly concluding a distinguished career that began in 1986. A Career Spanning Super Mario Bros.
2 to Nintendo 3DS Hideki Konno’s journey at Nintendo started as a designer on the classic Super Mario Bros.
2.
His swift rise within the company soon placed him at the creative helm of numerous landmark franchises—most notably as director of Super Mario Kart and later as a producer for subsequent Mario Kart entries.
In recent years, Kosuke Yabuki assumed the producer role for the series, beginning with Mario Kart 8, but Konno’s legacy remains deeply embedded within the franchise’s DNA. Konno also left a lasting mark as the director of Luigi’s Mansion for the Nintendo GameCube, a game praised for its innovative mechanics and unique tonal direction.
His influence extended beyond software, as he played a pivotal role as producer of the Nintendo 3DS, helping steer the handheld’s development and subsequent global success in the competitive portable gaming market. Leading Nintendo’s Mobile Strategy As gaming evolved to encompass mobile platforms, Hideki Konno became Nintendo’s general producer of mobile development.
He was instrumental in launching applications and games such as Miitomo, Dr.
Mario World, Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, Super Mario Run, Fire Emblem Heroes, and Mario Kart Tour.
These titles expanded Nintendo’s reach and helped bridge the gap between established console gamers and a broader, mobile-focused audience. Verifying Konno’s Departure While news of his departure is only now becoming widespread, a private status update on Konno’s personal social media confirms he left Nintendo last July.
Out of respect for his privacy, details beyond this confirmation remain limited.
The quiet timing of his exit stands in contrast to the attention his projects have received over the years on the Nintendo Switch, 3DS, and the eShop. A Period of Transition for Nintendo Leadership Konno’s departure is not occurring in isolation.
In the same week, reports surfaced of another major figure, Kensuke Tanabe, announcing that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond would be his last project with Nintendo—underscoring an ongoing period of transition within the company’s revered development teams. Konno’s enduring impact on Nintendo’s game development, hardware innovation, and mobile strategy cements him as one of the company’s most influential contributors.
As the industry reflects on his impressive legacy, fans and peers alike recognize the significant role he played in shaping Nintendo’s creative direction and global success.
