Nintendo of America and Nintendo of Europe have issued separate statements in response to Satoru Iwata’s untimely passing from their respective presidents, Reggie Fils-Aime and Satoru Shibata.
They speak of a strong leader, mentor and friend, who always challenged the company’s regional offices “to push forward.” That sees them pledge to continue his long-held desire to always “surprise and delight” their fans.
“Mr. Iwata is gone, but it will be years before his impact on both Nintendo and the full video game industry will be fully appreciated,” Fils-Aime shared. “He was a strong leader for our company, and his attributes were clear to most everyone: Intelligence, creativity, curiosity and sense of humour.
“But for those of us fortunate enough to work closely with him, what will be remembered most were his mentorship and, especially, his friendship. He was a wonderful man. He always challenged us to push forward… to try the new… to upset paradigms – and most of all, to engage, excite and endear our fans. That work will continue uninterrupted.”
Shibata’s own statement adds, “Nintendo of Europe is today mourning the passing of Mr Satoru Iwata, Nintendo’s global president. It is difficult to put into words the sadness we feel at this time. Mr. Iwata was a strong leader, a unique figure in the gaming industry and an important part of Nintendo’s history.
“He was a visionary in every sense of the word and we will mis him dearly. Just as Mr. Iwata challenged us to always push forward, we will ensure his legacy lives on through our ongoing work to always surprise and delight our fans. At this time our thoughts are with his family.”
