A longtime Nintendo producer has reportedly left the legendary gaming juggernaut after nearly 40 years, with Hideki Konno making a name for himself with his work on Mario Kart and Yoshi's Island. Nintendo has hosted some of the gaming industry's most famous and beloved creators of all time and boasts a number of well-known producers and developers. Creators like Shigeru Miyamoto and Satoru Iwata helped shape the modern gaming industry with their work, while many others like Masahiro Sakurai became intrinsically connected to the studio. Now one of Nintendo's most popular producers has said goodbye.
Hideki Konno was a Nintendo veteran, having worked for the company for nearly four decades as a producer and game designer. Konno started at Nintendo in 1986, working as an assistant director on the second and third Super Mario Bros. games. Konno was involved in the creation of some of them Mario the franchise's biggest spin-offs, where he serves as director and producer in almost all of the main roles Mario Kart games and directing games as Yoshi's Island and Luigi's mansion. A new report now reveals that Hideki Konno has officially parted ways with Nintendo.
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Longtime Nintendo producer Hideki Konno has retired
Famiboards users EAD Ninja and LeoSukaze recently shared the discovery that Hideki Konno left Nintendo last year. The change was discovered on Konno's personal Facebook page, which confirmed that he was leaving Nintendo as of July 2025. Hideki Konno's quiet departure from the company he spent nearly 40 years with caught many fans by surprise as they had not seen either the CEO or Nintendo make an official announcement. The post did not reveal the reason why the producer left Nintendo, though many assumed that Konno simply left his position. Nintendo fans pointed out that Konno was nearing retirement age, with the director turning 60 in May 2025.
Hideki Konno's departure from Nintendo comes just days after another big developer figure confirmed his own departure. Metroid franchise producer Kensuke Tanabe officially announced his departure from Nintendo and revealed that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond was the last play the director would work on with the company. Tanabe had been at Nintendo almost as long as Hideki Konno, joining a year later in 1987 and similarly starting work on Super Mario Bros. 2. Tanabe is credited with working on over 150 projects during his time at Nintendo, with everything from Pokemon on Super Smash Bros. in his repertoire.
Nintendo could be entering a new era
The departure of Hideki Konno and Kensuke Tanabe will mark a big shift for Nintendo, likely leaning on its younger talents. Tanabe personally recommended Metroid Prime 4: Beyond associate producer Risa Tabata as his successor should Nintendo decide to make another one Metroid Prime game. Hideki Konno has largely resigned Mario Kart franchise before his retirement, which is only referenced in the “Special Thanks” section. Mario Kart World. Nintendo of America has also seen a significant change of its own since early 2026, when president Doug Bowser stepped down six years after taking the reins of the US division.
Hideki Konno will leave a lasting legacy at Nintendo, having helped build some of the studio's biggest franchises. The Mario Kart the series has been a mainstay of Nintendo ever since Super Mario Kart on SNES, p Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe ranks among the best-selling games of all time. The Luigi's mansion the games have also become cult classics among Nintendo fans, as the Luigi-centric horror franchise has received three main series games on multiple platforms. Nintendo fans say goodbye to one of the company's most beloved producers, with Hideki Konno's work creating treasured memories for gamers around the world.
