Masahiro Sakurai, the creative force behind Nintendo’s iconic franchises like Kirby and Super Smash Bros., recently sat down for an interview where he shared his unique perspective on the changing game industry, the role of generative AI, and the challenges of AAA development.
In March, Sakurai received a lifetime achievement award at the 30th AMD awards. His reflections, republished on Yahoo Japan, highlighted his unconventional approach to game creation. Unlike many industry veterans who run their own companies, Sakurai avoids the managerial burden by collaborating with other studios, allowing him to stay focused on the creative process. “I don’t hire people,” Sakurai explained, emphasizing how his role as a freelancer and the head of Sora Ltd. gives him the freedom to work without the pressures of running a company. “It’s easier to focus on the fun part of making games when I’m not bogged down by management duties,” he added.
Sakurai’s strategy may sound unusual, but it has worked well for him. He stresses the importance of building strong relationships with his collaborators. “Every new project means starting fresh with a new team,” he said. “Trust and clear communication are key. I ensure everyone has the same vision and information from the start.” He believes this reduces the risk of misunderstandings that can derail a project. “If you just convey your ideas to a producer, there can be huge gaps in understanding, leading to major discrepancies in the final product.”
Despite the success of his method, Sakurai notes that it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. “Not everyone can work this way,” he admits. “Building a reputation and trust through past successes like Kirby and Smash Bros. allows me to operate this way. Without that track record, it’s much harder to break into the industry.”
When asked about the future of game development, Sakurai expressed concern about the dwindling role of the game director. He believes that the increasing specialization of roles-where tasks are divided into smaller, more specialized areas-has made it difficult for any one person to oversee large teams. “There’s a shortage of directors who can manage huge teams,” he noted. “Back in the day, a graphic artist could transition into a director role. Now, the complexity of modern game development makes that path nearly impossible.”
As for the state of the industry, Sakurai pointed to the rising challenges faced by both AAA studios and indie developers. He argued that AAA games are becoming increasingly unsustainable, citing the overwhelming amount of resources and effort required to produce large-scale projects. “It’s getting harder to maintain such a large workforce and keep up with the demands of AAA games,” Sakurai said. However, he sees hope in generative AI, which he believes could revolutionize the industry by making development more efficient. “Generative AI could be the breakthrough the industry needs,” he suggested. “It can help reduce costs, speed up development, and allow more room for creative people to focus on their work.”
While Sakurai sees AI as a potential savior for the industry, he also acknowledged that indie games face their own set of hurdles. “Indie games offer freedom and creativity, but they require a lot of luck and hard work to stand out,” he said. “The market is very competitive, and only the most polished and unique projects will thrive.”
Looking to the future, Sakurai is continuing to work on exciting new projects, including Kirby Air Riders for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2. As the industry evolves, one thing remains clear: Sakurai is determined to stay true to his roots while adapting to the changing landscape.
2 comments
Sakurai is on point, creative freedom should be the priority, not managing a whole company. Hope more developers follow his lead
I miss the days when games were made in small teams. But I guess that’s impossible now with the huge budgets involved