Reggie Fils-Aime and Masahiro Sakurai Honor Satoru Iwata: 10 Years Since Nintendo Legend’s Passing

This July marks a significant milestone in the history of Nintendo as the company remembers Satoru Iwata, the revered president whose vision and leadership transformed the landscape of video games.

Iwata assumed the role of Nintendo president in 2002 and led the company through pivotal years, leaving a lasting mark before his untimely passing in July 2015 due to complications from a bile duct tumor.

Ten years after his death, countless fans and colleagues are looking back on his enduring legacy, including prominent figures such as Reggie Fils-Aime and Masahiro Sakurai. Reggie Fils-Aime, former president of Nintendo of America, worked closely alongside Satoru Iwata for over a decade, shaping the global direction of the brand and steering iconic launches like the Wii and Nintendo Switch.

Reflecting on their experiences together, Reggie took to social media to underscore the personal and professional impact Iwata had on him.

In his heartfelt message, Fils-Aime shared that he still thinks of Iwata nearly every day, noting the joy they brought to millions: “This July 11 marks the 10th anniversary of Satoru Iwata’s passing.

I still think of him nearly every day.

Together, we put a lot of smiles on people’s faces.” His tribute highlights just how deeply Iwata’s commitment to fun and innovation resonated within Nintendo’s leadership and with gamers worldwide. Masahiro Sakurai, renowned for his work on the Kirby and Super Smash Bros.

franchises and for his extensive tenure at HAL Laboratory, also paid tribute to Iwata.

The two developed a deep professional bond through years of collaboration, dating back to their time at HAL Laboratory—a studio best known for shaping classic Nintendo experiences.

On the day marking both the 22nd anniversary of the GameCube release of Kirby Air Ride and Iwata’s passing, Sakurai reflected thoughtfully on their relationship.

He remarked that he and Iwata were nearly a decade apart in both age and company entry, noting, "It has now been ten years since then...

Soon, I’ll be reaching the age Iwata-san was when he left us." Sakurai also updated fans on his current work, mentioning that he is dedicating himself wholeheartedly to the development of Kirby Air Riders, the anticipated title set to launch for Nintendo Switch 2 later this year.

This demonstrates that Iwata’s legacy lives on not just in the memories of his colleagues but also in the ongoing evolution of Nintendo’s beloved franchises. Satoru Iwata’s innovative approach and heartfelt leadership remain essential to Nintendo’s identity.

His influence can be seen across major milestones such as the meteoric success of the Nintendo DS, Wii, and the robust growth of the Nintendo Switch, which has sold over 125 million units worldwide as of March 2024.

The emotional recollections from both Fils-Aime and Sakurai underscore the unique camaraderie and passion that helped define Nintendo’s golden era, inspiring new generations of developers and fans.

As the Nintendo community looks to the future, it continues to honor Iwata, ensuring the spirit he brought to the games industry endures for years to come.

Nintendo Masahiro Sakurai Reggie Fils-Aime Satoru Iwata Sakurai Legend Nintendo Switch HAL Laboratory Kirby Air Ride Kirby Air Riders Nintendo of America