Veteran Nintendo designer and director Takashi Tezuka will retire from his role as an executive officer on June 26 after more than 40 years with the company. He joined Nintendo in 1984 while still at university and contributed to many of its most iconic games.
Tezuka started as a part-time employee and later served as assistant director and designer on the original 1985 Super Mario Bros. He went on to direct titles including the first Legend of Zelda, Super Mario World, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and Yoshi's Island. In more recent years he worked as producer or supervisor on games such as Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Super Mario 3D World and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.