Masahiro Sakurai, the games director best known as the creator of Kirby and the longtime lead on the Super Smash Bros. series, told Famitsu that he will only consider retirement when either demand for his work disappears or he can no longer meet that demand.
Sakurai founded Sora Ltd. after his tenure at HAL Laboratory and most recently directed Super Smash Bros.
Ultimate for Nintendo Switch, which launched on December 7, 2018.
He also directed Kid Icarus: Uprising for Nintendo 3DS in 2012, among other high-profile projects.
In a translated Famitsu interview, Sakurai was candid about his outlook on continuing game development.
Paraphrasing his remarks, he said that as long as people want his work and he feels capable of delivering it, he intends to keep working.
However, he made clear there are limits: if either public demand or his personal ability to meet that demand collapses, he will reassess his career plans.
Sakurai additionally acknowledged the physical realities of long-term development work.
He noted a noticeable decline in aspects of his health, specifically mentioning that his eyes tire more easily, and described a general sense of bodily decline.
He framed the core issue not as an immediate plan to stop but as a question of “when my spirit breaks,” adding that continuous repetition of the same pattern is not something he believes can—or should—go on indefinitely because people eventually need to change stages in life and career.
Context and career highlights
- Creator of Kirby, first appearing in Kirby's Dream Land (1992).
- Founded Sora Ltd., an independent studio that has collaborated with Nintendo.
- Directed Kid Icarus: Uprising (2012) for Nintendo 3DS.
- Directed Super Smash Bros.
Ultimate for Nintendo Switch, released December 7, 2018.
Sakurai’s statements to Famitsu add a personal dimension to a public figure closely linked to Nintendo hardware and events such as Nintendo Direct announcements and eShop releases.
His remarks are notable given his reputation for hands-on involvement in high-profile releases and ongoing support for titles like Super Smash Bros.
Ultimate.
For now, Sakurai’s position is factual and pragmatic: work is available and he remains committed, but he will consider retirement if demand wanes or his capacity to meet that demand declines.
Sakurai founded Sora Ltd. after his tenure at HAL Laboratory and most recently directed Super Smash Bros.
Ultimate for Nintendo Switch, which launched on December 7, 2018.
He also directed Kid Icarus: Uprising for Nintendo 3DS in 2012, among other high-profile projects.
In a translated Famitsu interview, Sakurai was candid about his outlook on continuing game development.
Paraphrasing his remarks, he said that as long as people want his work and he feels capable of delivering it, he intends to keep working.
However, he made clear there are limits: if either public demand or his personal ability to meet that demand collapses, he will reassess his career plans.
Sakurai additionally acknowledged the physical realities of long-term development work.
He noted a noticeable decline in aspects of his health, specifically mentioning that his eyes tire more easily, and described a general sense of bodily decline.
He framed the core issue not as an immediate plan to stop but as a question of “when my spirit breaks,” adding that continuous repetition of the same pattern is not something he believes can—or should—go on indefinitely because people eventually need to change stages in life and career.
Context and career highlights
- Creator of Kirby, first appearing in Kirby's Dream Land (1992).
- Founded Sora Ltd., an independent studio that has collaborated with Nintendo.
- Directed Kid Icarus: Uprising (2012) for Nintendo 3DS.
- Directed Super Smash Bros.
Ultimate for Nintendo Switch, released December 7, 2018.
Sakurai’s statements to Famitsu add a personal dimension to a public figure closely linked to Nintendo hardware and events such as Nintendo Direct announcements and eShop releases.
His remarks are notable given his reputation for hands-on involvement in high-profile releases and ongoing support for titles like Super Smash Bros.
Ultimate.
For now, Sakurai’s position is factual and pragmatic: work is available and he remains committed, but he will consider retirement if demand wanes or his capacity to meet that demand declines.
