Super Smash Bros. creator Masahiro Sakurai will only retire when he feels his “spirit break”
AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication
Masahiro Sakurai, the creator of Super Smash Bros. and Kirby, told reporters at the Famitsu 40th Anniversary Festival that he will not retire while demand for his games persists. Although he described himself as “semi‑retired” in 2022 after nine years of continuous Smash development and the release of the final Ultimate DLC character, Sakurai said he remains “working at full throttle.” He noted increasing physical fatigue, including eye strain and a history of calcific tendonitis during the Smash project, and warned that his “spirit” will only break when he can no longer meet expectations. The interview also revealed he has stepped down from his long‑held Game Designers Award after 16 years, citing an inability to find a successor, in an effort to reduce his workload.
💡 Why It Matters
- · Sakurai’s willingness to push through health limits underscores how pivotal his creative vision remains to Nintendo’s flagship franchises.
