Remembering Satoru Iwata: 10 Years Since Nintendo’s Visionary Leader Passed Away

On July 11, 2025, Japan marks the tenth anniversary of the passing of Satoru Iwata, the esteemed former president of Nintendo.

Iwata's influence resonates strongly within the gaming world, and his leadership has left a permanent legacy on both Nintendo and the industry at large.

His death in 2015, after a battle with cancer, was a profound loss that was felt deeply by fans, industry professionals, and colleagues alike. Satoru Iwata joined Nintendo from HAL Laboratory, where he had already distinguished himself as a programmer and business leader.

Rising through the ranks, Iwata became Nintendo's global president in 2002.

His technical background and genuine passion for video games uniquely equipped him to steer the company through both its greatest triumphs and most challenging periods.

During Iwata’s presidency, Nintendo saw landmark successes with the launches of the Nintendo DS and the Wii, each achieving record-breaking sales figures and expanding the gaming audience worldwide.

Nintendo DS, for instance, remains one of the best-selling handheld consoles of all time, with over 154 million units sold globally.

The Wii similarly revolutionized home gaming, surpassing 101 million units in sales and introducing innovative motion controls that set new industry standards. Iwata’s transparent communication style, demonstrated through the widely popular "Nintendo Direct" presentations, helped humanize the company and bring fans closer to Nintendo’s creative process.

In various interviews, Iwata often reiterated his dedication to fun and creativity, once stating that, "Above all, I want people to think of Nintendo as a company that makes people smile through its games." Despite facing challenges during the Wii U era, Iwata remained steadfast in his commitment to innovation.

Even during his illness, he continued to oversee the development of the Nintendo Switch.

His forward-thinking strategies included Nintendo's eventual expansion into new markets such as mobile gaming, theme parks, movies, and official retail stores.

The results of these initiatives are evident today: the original Nintendo Switch has sold over 140 million units as of 2025, positioning it among the most successful consoles in history, and Nintendo’s presence continues to grow with major new projects including the anticipated Nintendo Switch 2. Iwata’s vision did not end with his passing—his successors have carried forward many of his strategic plans, shaping the direction of Nintendo’s hardware, software, and global reach.

Industry veterans and fans alike continue to celebrate his achievements, and his commitment to accessible, joyful gaming remains a guiding principle for the company. While it is impossible to know the exact shape Nintendo would have taken had Iwata remained at its helm, his influence as a mentor and innovator would undoubtedly have continued to enrich its culture.

As the gaming world remembers him a decade later, Satoru Iwata's legacy endures—not just in Nintendo’s products, but in the spirit of playfulness and creativity that defines the company he helped to lead.

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