Nintendo President Satoru Iwata Passes at 55

Over the weekend, the gaming world lost a giant.

Mr. Satoru Iwata, Nintendo president and longtime gamer, passed at the age of fifty-five over the weekend due to health complications. Nintendo states:

“Nintendo Co., Ltd. deeply regrets to announce that President Satoru Iwata passed away on July 11, 2015 due to a bile duct growth.”

And over Twitter:
 

“In remembrance of Mr. Satoru Iwata, Nintendo will not be posting on our social media channels today.”

Mr. Satoru Iwata started work at Nintendo working as a programmer for HAL laboratories, where he worked on such famous titles as Kirby, Earthbound, and Balloon Fight.He was promoted to director in 2000, and two years later he was promoted to president. Beyond anything he did when he was working as a designer, Mr. Iwata was well-known for being a gentleman, friendly and kind, but above all else, fun. His trademark smile and laugh were highlights of the Nintendo Direct shows, and when Nintendo was at its worst he famously chose to take a massive pay cut rather than fire any employees. He worked for the company during its greatest high and it’s lowest low, and his leadership had always inspired both Nintendo and developers around the world.

He was a good man, and our deepest respect and condolences go out to his friends and family, from everywhere in the gaming world: words of respect and admiration have been flooding both the press and the gaming community as a whole… even from rival companies like Sony and Microsoft.

Rest in peace, Satoru Iwata. We’ll be less without you.