Nintendo’s Takashi Tezuka, director of classic Mario and Zelda games, is retiring

May 8, 2026 - 09:13

Takashi Tezuka, a key figure behind some of Nintendo's most beloved early games, is retiring. The company confirmed that the veteran developer, who worked closely with Shigeru Miyamoto on the original Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda, will be leaving the company.

Tezuka started at Nintendo in the 1980s and quickly became a central creative force. He served as a director on Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, and The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, helping to define the look and feel of those iconic worlds. He also directed Yoshi's Island, known for its distinct art style and gameplay. In later years, Tezuka oversaw the development of the 2D Mario series as a producer, including the New Super Mario Bros. line of games.

His retirement follows a pattern of long-time Nintendo creators stepping away. Tezuka is the latest in a line of veteran staff who have either retired or taken on less active roles. This includes former president Satoru Iwata, who passed away in 2015, and more recently, Shigeru Miyamoto has moved away from direct game development to focus on broader entertainment projects.

Nintendo has not announced a specific date for Tezuka's final day. The company did not comment on whether his role would be filled by a specific successor. His departure marks the end of an era for the company, removing another direct link to the creative team that built the foundation of the modern video game industry.