Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime is Retiring

The games industry is bleeding talent: we’ve got massive layoffs on one hand, and now, one of Nintendo’s most iconic spokespeople and leaders is stepping down from his post… Reggie Fils-Aime. Although thankfully, this doesn’t come from some scandal or cost-cutting measure: the dude’s just retiring.

You can see his video goodbye over on twitter, if you care to click the link.

Ol’ Reggie’s been with Nintendo for the past 15 years, through the good and the bad, and while it would be disingenuous to ever say he was ever as beloved as say, Iwata (bless) or Miyamoto, he was bombastic and energetic and was a great spokesperson and president for the company’s American branch.

Nintendo President Shunaro Furukawa had this to say:
 

“I really appreciate everything Reggie has done for Nintendo. Inside and outside our company, Reggie is known as an exceptional leader. We are grateful that he is leaving the business in good shape with strong momentum. While we will miss him and we wish him the very best in his retirement, we are also pleased to have such an able successor ready to step into that role. Doug Bowser and the rest of the team will ensure a seamless transition and continued momentum for Nintendo.”

And yes, as the quote has stated, his role will be filled by a man named Doug Bowser, which is his real name, and yes, the internet has been going appropriately crazy over that fact.

In any case, Reggie might not have been one of the most beloved figures in the industry, but he was very much an icon of Nintendo, which for better or worse is becoming one of the few “good” triple-A companies in the business, and he had a personable way about him that will dearly be missed… especially when contrasted with some of his contemporaries, like the deplorable Bobby Kotick.

Enjoy that retirement, man.