Nintendo has announced that legendary game designer Takashi Tezuka will retire on June 26, 2026. The company confirmed the news in a formal statement on May 8, 2026.
Co-creator of Super Mario and Zelda to retire on June 26
Tezuka co-designed iconic titles including Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, and Yoshi. He also directed Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World. More recently, he produced Super Mario Maker, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, and Pikmin 4.
Tezuka's career spans decades and includes some of the most influential games in the industry. His retirement marks the end of an era for Nintendo's development team.
Nintendo has not commented on any successor or future plans for Tezuka's projects.
Source: Nintendo, Insider Gaming/InsiderG
