This has been the most horrible news to wake up to; Nintendo president and global CEO Satoru Iwata has passed away at the age of 55, a result of a bile duct growth. Nintendo has confirmed his passing via the briefest of statements.
“Nintendo Co., Ltd. deeply regrets to announce that President Satoru Iwata passed away on July 11, 2015 due to a bile duct growth,” the brief statement reads.
News of his ill health first came to light last year, when he was unable to attend E3, under advisement from his doctors. When he’d returned to host Iwata Asks and the company’s Direct videos, he’d lost a significant amount of weight.
Iwata had been president of the company since 2002, and had presided over its most successful and least successful periods. He was oversaw release of the unbelievably popular Nintendo DS and Wii, and also the company’s least popular systems; the Gamecube and Wii U.
He was only the fourth person to helm Nintendo since it began in 1889, and the first not to be directly descended from the Yamauchi family that started it.
The gentle, affable man became a bit of a media personality with the advent of Nintendo’s Direct events, which saw him the subject of memes and animated gifs aplenty.
He joined Nintendo-owned Tokyo-based developer HAL Laboratory in the early 80s as a game developer, helping create games like Balloon Fight and the Kirby games, and working on games like Earthbound, Pokémon, The Legend of Zelda, and Smash Bros. These are all games and series that have had an immeasurable impact on my life, and like many others, I’m a little choked up today.
The gaming world is a sadder, more desolate place. Gaming dignitaries took to Twitter to express their sadness.
“On my business card, I am a corporate president. In my mind, I am a game developer. But in my heart, I am a gamer.” – Iwata-san
— Bungie (@Bungie) July 13, 2015
I am beyond heartbroken to hear about the passing of my friend Satoru Iwata. He was a gamer, a developer and a champion for our medium. RIP
— Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley) July 13, 2015
In my heart forever. http://t.co/w4cYNscXFy
— ???? Hideki Kamiya (@PG_kamiya) July 13, 2015
Thank you for everything, Mr. Iwata.
— PlayStation (@PlayStation) July 13, 2015
RIP, Mr. Iwata. Thanks for all the incredible fun and inspiration.
— Neil Druckmann (@Neil_Druckmann) July 13, 2015
I had the chance to meet Iwata-san at E3 one year, and he was such a gentleman as I fan boyed out. Today the industry lost a huge force.
— Larry Hryb (@majornelson) July 13, 2015
Last Updated: July 13, 2015
Captain JJ wants moar
July 13, 2015 at 07:07
🙁
Geoffrey Tim
July 13, 2015 at 07:07
I’m pretty fucking miserable. Iwata was a rare, incredible leader in the gaming industry. Shattered. 🙁
Captain JJ wants moar
July 13, 2015 at 07:10
Yea man. Agreed. Not many, if any at all, CEOs like him in the gaming industry.
Sageville
July 13, 2015 at 10:04
He focused on keeping the fun in his games, I think others are tending to forget that ethos.
RinceThis
July 13, 2015 at 12:07
A great loss bro.
Ranting Raptor
July 13, 2015 at 07:14
This is terrible news 🙁 The gaming world has lost someone who stood for the very idea behind gaming: Fun.
If only we had more people with his vision in the industry.
Ranting Raptor
July 13, 2015 at 07:16
http://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/1/11171/2741871-3219827961-200×2.gif
Her Highness the Hipster
July 13, 2015 at 07:17
such sad news to wake up to. 🙁 Iwata-san was an incredible leader and showed the joy and silliness of gaming. the industry is worse off without him.
Jonah Cash
July 13, 2015 at 07:21
RIP good sir. You will be missed by many, but never forgotten.
kuuu(UMAR)rrrr
July 13, 2015 at 07:32
don’t really have any words today
Rock789
July 13, 2015 at 07:47
R.I.P. Iwata-san.
That is truly terribly sad news to start the day with!
Hammersteyn
July 13, 2015 at 07:53
Gaming is poorer without him.
kuuu(UMAR)rrrr
July 13, 2015 at 07:53
R.I.P We will forever remember you!
WitWolfy
July 13, 2015 at 07:57
Wow, shame.. RIP
Admiral Chief's Adventure
July 13, 2015 at 08:00
damn….onion…..ninjas…..
hairyknees
July 13, 2015 at 08:07
This is the absolute worst way to start this week 🙁 this is the first time I’ve been genuinely sad at a “celebrity” passing away. What a legend!
Dawid Eduard Roestorf
July 13, 2015 at 08:26
Sad Sad day in gaming
Pieter Smal
July 13, 2015 at 08:26
Laments Lazygamer not lamenting James Horner. >_<
Geoffrey Tim
July 13, 2015 at 08:44
We left that to our movie focused sister site.
http://www.themovies.co.za/2015/06/23/oscar-winning-composer-james-horner-has-died-in-a-plane-crash/
Pieter Smal
July 13, 2015 at 08:54
I saw that. Check the comments – and tribute from gamers who (I suppose) do not give a rats ass. Film and games are both cinematic experiences, only differentiating in linear and non-linear aspects. Game creators clearly reference film influences in their creations – why should the communities not share their experiences? Anyhow…
Umar
July 13, 2015 at 08:57
I’ve never heard of him before unfortunately, it’s quite the unfair statement and pretty hostile of you to call out gamers as not giving a rats ass.
Pieter Smal
July 13, 2015 at 09:37
A tad harsh – but not entirely off since I am both part of the gaming and music/composers/film-makers circles. Like you said yourself: “I’ve never heard of him before” – and yet, you know his music! Titanic, Braveheart, Aliens (1986), Avatar, Spiderwick Chronicles, A Beautiful Mind, Star Trek III, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, The Amazing Spiderman…
Umar
July 13, 2015 at 09:46
Thank you for making me aware of his musical contributions. We can honor both of these wonderful men in our ways.
Sageville
July 13, 2015 at 09:51
I never heard of James Horner, sorry he passed, but I’m not sure it’s cool to hijack this topic.
Hammersteyn
July 13, 2015 at 10:56
Yeah, what the shit?
Pieter Smal
July 13, 2015 at 13:24
Hijacking is not the word. But both these men died weeks away from each other. I am primarily concerned about biased journalism. I have noticed a lot of holes in Lazygamer recently – sometimes anticipating coverage of important gaming/filming news that never reaches the South-African based audience (at least, the readers on this website). I personally feel that Lazygamer has some of the best local coverage (compared to other gaming media companies) – and my support is not lessened in any way (en con tre, I still wish the best for Lazygamer). I implore the staff of Lazygamer to broaden their coverage (and possibly appoint more writing staff) in an attempt to educate and inform the general public.
Correction: Gamers might give a rats ass about who James Horner is 🙂 But a lack of general education (in any and every group) is really a global issue. We know the names of developers, but do we know the names behind games? Education (in the humanities and beyond) is the responsibility of every individual – and yet, a collective effort should be made to preserve social attitues. Unless the average reader is happy with the status quo…
Pax out!
Sageville
July 13, 2015 at 15:31
Nah, it still feels like a hijack.
The whole “I’m here to educate the stupid people” slant used to justify, feels so condescending. It’s as if your main aim was to put the LG staff in a bad light at the expense of those sharing condolences at the loss of one of the gaming industry’s greats.
Kervyn’s affiliated movie site covered Horner’s passing here: http://www.themovies.co.za/2015/06/23/oscar-winning-composer-james-horner-has-died-in-a-plane-crash/
Pieter Smal
July 13, 2015 at 08:57
PS: I feel Horner’s influence was more direct than Iwata – lest we forget.
Alessandro Barbosa
July 13, 2015 at 08:30
Iwata-San, this industry will remember you 🙁
Dutch Matrix
July 13, 2015 at 08:41
Ugh man! This is so sad! Who here has not been influenced by Nintendo in one way or another? Even if it was just playing pirated games on Golden China consoles?
Fact is, Nintendo games shaped my love for gaming, and whilst I have stood on the side lines for a very long time, Nintendo had always seemed to understand that gaming was meant to be fun.
From the tweets I have read, it seems that Iwata-san understood this most of all.
Sad day for all gamers.
Jarrod Lane
July 13, 2015 at 09:07
Soo sad….
oVg"Guard boat with boat"Troll
July 13, 2015 at 09:20
HAI
JHN
July 13, 2015 at 09:27
This is where it all started for me…. Big loss to the gaming world
Xx_-Gaben_of_Gamen-_xX
July 13, 2015 at 10:24
55 is far too young! Rest in peace sensei.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
July 13, 2015 at 10:31
This is without a doubt…heartbreaking! All I can say is that gaming has lost a giant, and it will be poorer without him. RIP Iwata-san.
PS: I love this quote:
“On my business card, I am a corporate president. In my mind, I am a game developer. But in my heart, I am a gamer.” – Iwata-san
RinceThis
July 13, 2015 at 12:00
This is not cool. Damn what a bad way to start the week. RIP bro.
RinceThis
July 13, 2015 at 12:05
Guy had real passion. He got what fun was about. Le Sigh 🙁
HvR
July 13, 2015 at 14:38
RIP, condolences to his family. That cancer is a bastard, the end probably came unexpectedly.
HvR
July 13, 2015 at 14:38
RIP, condolences to his family. That cancer is a bastard, the end probably came unexpectedly.
SADGAMER
July 13, 2015 at 14:41
Very sad to hear. RIP.