Nintendo Veteran Hideki Konno Leaves After 40 Years at Company

Hideki Konno, a key Nintendo developer for 40 years, left the company in July 2025. He worked on major games and hardware projects during his time there. The news came to light recently through an update on his personal Facebook page. Konno joined Nintendo in 1986 and contributed to some of its biggest successes.

Background

Konno started at Nintendo right after college in 1986. His early work included designing levels for Super Mario Bros. 2 and serving as assistant director on Super Mario Bros. 3. These games helped define the Super Mario series on the NES console.

Over the years, he took on bigger roles. He directed Super Mario Kart, the game that launched the Mario Kart racing series in 1992. That title introduced kart racing with Nintendo characters and became a hit. He also directed Yoshi's Island, a side-scrolling adventure featuring Yoshi from the Mario world. Mario Kart 64 followed, bringing the series to 3D on the N64.

Konno moved into producing roles later. He oversaw Luigi's Mansion on GameCube, the first game starring Luigi as the lead. He produced several Mario Kart games, including Mario Kart 8 for Wii U and its Switch version, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. These remain among Nintendo's top sellers.

On the hardware side, Konno led development for the Nintendo 3DS handheld. Released in 2011, the 3DS brought glasses-free 3D to gaming. He worked closely with company leaders like Shigeru Miyamoto and Satoru Iwata on this project. His software background helped shape the device's features to work well with games.

Nintendo entered mobile gaming around 2015, and Konno took charge of those efforts. He produced Super Mario Run, Fire Emblem Heroes, Mario Kart Tour, and others like Dr. Mario World and Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp. These apps brought Nintendo characters to smartphones for the first time.

His last projects included work on Mario Kart 8 Deluxe DLC and a special thanks credit in Mario Kart World. At 60 years old, Konno turns 61 in 2026. His career spanned the NES era to modern Switch and mobile titles.

Key Details

Konno's departure happened quietly in July 2025. He updated his Facebook page to note he had left Nintendo, but the information only spread widely this week. People in gaming forums first spotted the post.

His Full List of Contributions

• Designer and assistant director: Super Mario Bros. 2, Super Mario Bros. 3, Ice Hockey (NES).
• Director: Super Mario Kart, Yoshi's Island, Mario Kart 64, Luigi's Mansion.
• Producer: Mario Kart 7, Mario Kart 8, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Nintendo 3DS hardware, multiple mobile games.

This exit comes days after another veteran, Kensuke Tanabe, announced his retirement. Tanabe worked on Metroid Prime, Paper Mario, and Zelda titles over 40 years. He called Metroid Prime 4: Beyond his final Nintendo game. The two departures highlight a changing guard at the company.

"It's been a long journey, but time to move on after 40 great years." – Hideki Konno, via Facebook update

Nintendo has not made an official statement on Konno's exit. The company rarely comments on individual staff changes unless they involve executives.

What This Means

Konno's leave marks the end of an era for Nintendo. Many developers from the 1980s NES days are now in their 60s or older. Shigeru Miyamoto, Nintendo's top creative, turns 74 this year. Others who started in that period are nearing retirement age.

The company has built a deep bench of talent over decades. Younger producers like Kosuke Yabuki took over Mario Kart duties starting with Mario Kart 8. New teams handle mobile and Switch projects. Nintendo trains staff internally, passing knowledge from veterans to the next group.

Games like Mario Kart continue strong. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has sold over 60 million copies, making it one of the best-selling games ever. The series shows no signs of slowing, with new entries likely in development.

Mobile efforts persist too, even after some apps wound down. Titles like Mario Kart Tour still update regularly. Hardware innovation remains key, as seen with the Switch successor rumors.

Fans remember Konno for blending fun gameplay with solid design. His work on karts, ghosts, and 3D screens touched millions. Nintendo's success relies on such steady hands, and his exit tests how well the transition to fresh faces goes.

Industry watchers see this as part of a natural shift. Companies like Nintendo plan for these changes by growing talent from within. No big disruptions appear on the horizon. Upcoming titles from the Mario and Zelda worlds keep the pipeline full.

Konno's 40 years covered massive changes in gaming, from cartridges to apps. His footprint shows in everyday play for kids and adults alike.