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Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata Dies At 55

The industry has lost a leader.

Nintendo has announced that their beloved CEO and president, Satoru Iwata, passed away on July 11 "due to a bile duct growth." He was 55 years old.

Iwata was first appointed director of Nintendo in 2000 and was then promoted to president and representative director in 2002 (following the resignation of Hiroshi Yamauchi). He became the Nintendo of America CEO in 2013. Iwata was treated for the bile duct growth last year, which was removed in surgery, but there were concerns about his rapid weight loss following the operation.

Iwata worked on all sorts of well-known IPs, including Earthbound and Kirby , and gamers loved him for his honesty and cheerful attitude. Last year, he took a 50 percent pay cut as an apology for the company's disappointing Wii U sales, which earned him even more respect.

He always said that in his heart, he was a gamer. Which means, in truth, we've lost one of our own.

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Evil Incarnate
Evil Incarnate
8 years ago

Sad day for the gaming community. Thanks for all the fun and entertainment you gave my family and I. I hope your second journey is better then the first.

Peaks
Peaks
8 years ago

R.I.P. Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata

Jawknee
Jawknee
8 years ago

Oh my this is absolutely terrible news. 🙁

LimitedVertigo
LimitedVertigo
8 years ago

Devastating, one of the most genuine people in the industry.

“On my business card, I am a corporate president. In my mind, I am a game developer. But in my heart, I am a gamer” – Satoru Iwata,

Jawknee
Jawknee
8 years ago

Indeed. He was my favorite leader in the industry.

souljah92
souljah92
8 years ago

aw man kirby was freakin awesome

Lone Wanderer
Lone Wanderer
8 years ago

What!!? This is unexpected and out of nowhere! Horrible news… He was only 55. Smh.

Corvo
Corvo
8 years ago

My only question now is who is going to take his place? Obviously its sad and all but the next big boss is going to be the deciding factor of Nintendos future. Be it good or bad.

Shauneepeak
Shauneepeak
8 years ago

This is going to be a major issue. Reggie is the absolute obvious choice and should be the next head of Nintendo but that is never going to happen with Japan's Xenophobic culture there is no way in hell the old brass would allow a foreigner to run one of Japan's largest companies.

I am seriously worried they are going to follow the trend of choosing a stock market savvy mobile game loving business man as the next President and ruin Nintendo. =(


Last edited by Shauneepeak on 7/13/2015 1:09:01 AM

TrueAssassin86x
TrueAssassin86x
8 years ago

Reggie as boss of nintendo um no thanks. I rather see nintendo die with Satoru Iwata then have that fat a$$ run nintendo.

Jawknee
Jawknee
8 years ago

"Reggie as boss of nintendo um no thanks. I rather see nintendo die with Satoru Iwata then have that fat a$$ run nintendo."

This is the dumbest thing I've read on the Internet in a loooong time.

PSTan
PSTan
8 years ago

I hear Miyamoto is in the talks. He's going to temporarily take leadership with another guy while a successor is being selected.

SaiyanSenpai
SaiyanSenpai
8 years ago

So so sad. Rest in Peace Iwata-san.

FAREEZ
FAREEZ
8 years ago

gomeifuku wo inorimasu, Iwata-san…

Shauneepeak
Shauneepeak
8 years ago

Saw the news earlier and was absolutely shocked. He will be missed by many.

TrueAssassin86x
TrueAssassin86x
8 years ago

R.I.P Staoru Iwata

Kryten1029a
Kryten1029a
8 years ago

While I believe that he made a number as missteps as CEO, he always struck me as the most genuine and un CEO-like of the bunch. Terrible news.

Jawknee
Jawknee
8 years ago

This made my heart sink. Truly a wonderful human being by all accounts. Dedicated to fans and the company which her served. What other CEO's do you know who cut their own pay in half(as did Miyamoto) when times got tough? He really was a gem in this industry.

JackDillinger89
JackDillinger89
8 years ago

May he game in peace. He was too young to go. Hopefully though Nintendo will replace him with someone new.


Last edited by JackDillinger89 on 7/14/2015 9:30:31 PM

Rachet_JC_FTW
Rachet_JC_FTW
8 years ago

this is truely a very very very sad day for the games industry and a sad day for the gaming community.
just personally i reminds me of all the great child hood memories playing pokemon on the 2 GBA's he had on the trampoleen with one of my best friends in he summer days after school till late in the evening with the extra long days when the sun wouldn't go down till dark/dinner.
and that he was a park of that that i remember so fondly 10 over years ago.
so from me a personal thank you for those great games sir and my heart felt condolenses go out to his family at this time i wish the all the best.

and a great presence of much peace and comfort at this time that they might be wrapped in the the presence of love and wamrth and care as they deal with this tragic loss.

RIP from the gaming community

Kryten1029a
Kryten1029a
5 years ago

While I believe that he made a number as missteps as CEO, he always struck me as the most genuine and un CEO-like of the bunch. Terrible news.

Lone Wanderer
Lone Wanderer
5 years ago

What!!? This is unexpected and out of nowhere! Horrible news… He was only 55. Smh.

Jawknee
Jawknee
5 years ago

Indeed. He was my favorite leader in the industry.

souljah92
souljah92
5 years ago

aw man kirby was freakin awesome

Evil Incarnate
Evil Incarnate
5 years ago

Sad day for the gaming community. Thanks for all the fun and entertainment you gave my family and I. I hope your second journey is better then the first.

Shauneepeak
Shauneepeak
5 years ago

Saw the news earlier and was absolutely shocked. He will be missed by many.

PSTan
PSTan
5 years ago

I hear Miyamoto is in the talks. He&#39s going to temporarily take leadership with another guy while a successor is being selected.

Jawknee
Jawknee
5 years ago

Oh my this is absolutely terrible news. 🙁

Corvo
Corvo
5 years ago

My only question now is who is going to take his place? Obviously its sad and all but the next big boss is going to be the deciding factor of Nintendos future. Be it good or bad.

TrueAssassin86x
TrueAssassin86x
5 years ago

R.I.P Staoru Iwata

TrueAssassin86x
TrueAssassin86x
5 years ago

Reggie as boss of nintendo um no thanks. I rather see nintendo die with Satoru Iwata then have that fat a$$ run nintendo.

Shauneepeak
Shauneepeak
5 years ago

This is going to be a major issue. Reggie is the absolute obvious choice and should be the next head of Nintendo but that is never going to happen with Japan&#39s Xenophobic culture there is no way in hell the old brass would allow a foreigner to run one of Japan&#39s largest companies.

I am seriously worried they are going to follow the trend of choosing a stock market savvy mobile game loving business man as the next President and ruin Nintendo. =(

Last edited by Shauneepeak on 7/13/2015 1:09:01 AM

LimitedVertigo
LimitedVertigo
5 years ago

Devastating, one of the most genuine people in the industry.

â&#128&#156On my business card, I am a corporate president. In my mind, I am a game developer. But in my heart, I am a gamerâ&#128&#157 – Satoru Iwata,

Jawknee
Jawknee
5 years ago

This made my heart sink. Truly a wonderful human being by all accounts. Dedicated to fans and the company which her served. What other CEO&#39s do you know who cut their own pay in half(as did Miyamoto) when times got tough? He really was a gem in this industry.

Peaks
Peaks
5 years ago

R.I.P. Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata

SaiyanSenpai
SaiyanSenpai
5 years ago

So so sad. Rest in Peace Iwata-san.

Jawknee
Jawknee
5 years ago

"Reggie as boss of nintendo um no thanks. I rather see nintendo die with Satoru Iwata then have that fat a$$ run nintendo."

This is the dumbest thing I&#39ve read on the Internet in a loooong time.

JackDillinger89
JackDillinger89
5 years ago

May he game in peace. He was too young to go. Hopefully though Nintendo will replace him with someone new.

Last edited by JackDillinger89 on 7/14/2015 9:30:31 PM

FAREEZ
FAREEZ
5 years ago

gomeifuku wo inorimasu, Iwata-san…

Rachet_JC_FTW
Rachet_JC_FTW
5 years ago

this is truely a very very very sad day for the games industry and a sad day for the gaming community.
just personally i reminds me of all the great child hood memories playing pokemon on the 2 GBA&#39s he had on the trampoleen with one of my best friends in he summer days after school till late in the evening with the extra long days when the sun wouldn&#39t go down till dark/dinner.
and that he was a park of that that i remember so fondly 10 over years ago.
so from me a personal thank you for those great games sir and my heart felt condolenses go out to his family at this time i wish the all the best.

and a great presence of much peace and comfort at this time that they might be wrapped in the the presence of love and wamrth and care as they deal with this tragic loss.

RIP from the gaming community

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