By “I won’t search anymore!”
It’s well-known that Shigeru Miyamoto has taken a step back regarding game production. The last Mario game he directly supervised as director was Super Mario Run, and after his latest role as general producer on Pikmin 4, the innovator has primarily transitioned into the realm of films.
In a recent interview with Casa Brutus (thanks, VGC), Miyamoto alludes to taking even more steps away from game production. He mentions that although Nintendo currently has other creators at the forefront of new Mario entries, he still makes an effort to play them and provide insights on the overall design.
“Nowadays, I have colleagues who assist in maintaining the Mario universe, so I delegate much of it to them. Nevertheless, I consistently play through approximately the first 30 minutes of the game and examine the interface meticulously — to ensure it genuinely embodies Mario.”
He then – possibly in jest – suggests that he might not even do this in the future and simply relinquish everything to his teammates, before sharing his desire to stay well until Mario’s forthcoming 50th anniversary in a decade:
“Up until Super Mario Odyssey, I believe we’ve accomplished nearly everything we could on the Switch. Historically, whenever a new console was launched, we always unveiled a new Mario title, so I do ponder how the current team will face that challenge.
“But perhaps I’ll say, ‘I won’t search anymore!’ (laughs) I just wish to remain healthy until Mario’s 50th anniversary!”
Conversation also shifts to the forthcoming Super Mario Galaxy Movie, which Miyamoto claims is in the “final stages of production” while expressing the belief that “it’s going to be entertaining”. Only time will unveil, but the film’s introduction of Yoshi was recently disclosed prematurely thanks to a product listing from US baking company Pillsbury.
The film officially premieres on 3rd April 2026, and it’s anticipated that a trailer will debut later this month and be shown prior to screenings for Wicked: For Good.
What are your thoughts on Miyamoto’s statements here? Is it possible he will ultimately retire entirely? Share your thoughts in the comments.
[source casabrutus.com, via videogameschronicle.com]
Nintendo Life’s resident horror enthusiast, when he’s not engrossed in Resident Evil and Silent Hill narratives, Ollie enjoys delving into a thrilling horror book while sipping a fine cup of tea. He also relishes long walks and listens to a variety of music from TOOL to Chuck Berry.