Masahiro Sakurai, known as the director of Smash Bros. games and Kirby, is possibly entering into an early retirement from video game development, additionally ending his column in Famitsu magazine by this year at the latest (after the final two Super Smash Bros. Ultimate characters are unleashed).
The director’s Famitsu column, “Think About Video Games” (which came to be back in 2003), was the source of this announcement; Sakurai would discuss all sorts of topics through this column, such as the decision to not have Rex from Xenoblade Chronicles 2 in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and the Cyberpunk 2077 fiasco.
Sakurai’s potential early retirement came up as he was going through Golden Week as he wondered about a life after video game development, saying he had a “certain fondness” for the idea and that “everything must come to an end at some point”.
The director also asserted “it’s okay to work as hard as I can right now, while I can, even if it makes me very busy”.
Masahiro Sakurai has been known to toil away endlessly at his job, to the point that he almost suffered serious physical harm from exhaustion and dehydration.
Within the year after the final two fighters for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate are released is when Sakurai is considering to end his Famitsu column, though, he noted the conclusion of this column “doesn’t mean that he won’t be involved in game-related work in the future”.
He better retire. He made a success of himself and he is also overworked.
He deserves to spend the rest of his life enjoying the fruits of his hard work.
It is ridiculous how much people can overwork themselves in Japan
His Western peers would be like “Haha i’ll keep staying as long as i can milk it dry”!
He has no western peers. He is at least one level of dedication and talent above everyone else.
Maybe he is tired of the kids that want Goku in the game
dragonballsuckers are the scum of the earth
u mad?
I think its a bit of him being overworked due to how fucked japanese work ethics are and annoying smash fans cough…cough..western fans….cough…cough…
would be nice to see more kirby
I agree
“Contemplating”. How often has Miyazaki retired for real by now?
He would’ve earned it. Smash Ultimate could be his magnum opus. It would be a shame since he at least knows how to make a feature complete fighting game, which is more than I can say for most titles out there.