Takashi Tezuka to retire as Nintendo executive in June

gamingMay 8, 2026191,570

Takashi Tezuka will retire as a Nintendo executive on June 26, closing a 40-plus-year career that includes directing Super Mario Bros. 3 and The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. Creators are producing tributes across illustration, pixel remakes, short animatics, comics, and cosplay. Much of the output spotlights Mario and Link, with frequent redraws of Super Mario Bros. 1-1 and the Light World to Dark World reveal, and additional pieces celebrating Animal Crossing villagers and Super Mario Bros. Wonder characters.

[Retirement] Takashi Tezuka is retiring from his position of Executive Officer at Nintendo on Jun 26. Some of his most notable contributions include working alo

@oatmealdome.bsky.social256

Super Mario Bros. (1985) - Assistant Director, Designer
The Legend of Zelda (1986) - Director, Designer (as Ten Ten)
Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels (1986) - Director
Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic (1987) - Meddler (as Ten Ten)
Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988) - Director
Super Mario World (1990) - Main Director
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (1991) - Director
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (1993) - Director
Super Mario All-Stars (1993) - Director
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (1995) - Director
BS The Legend of Zelda (1995) - Original Game Design
Super Mario 64 (1996) - Assistant Director
Tetris Attack (SNES) (1996) - Advisor
Tetris Attack (GB) (1996) - Design Adviser
Game & Watch Gallery (1997) - Design Adviser
BS Zelda no Densetsu: Inishie no Sekiban (1997) - Supervisor
Star Fox 64 (1997) - Supervisor
Game & Watch Gallery 2 (1997) - Design Adviser
Yoshi's Story (1997) - Producer
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998) - Supervisor
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX (1998) - Supervisor

@parkersimmons.bsky.social161

Nintendo announced Takashi Tezuka will be retiring from his role as Executive Officer as of June 26th. We don't know if this means he's retiring from Nintendo.

@stealth40k.bsky.social153

Takashi Tezuka is set to retire from Nintendo in June www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2026/... An absolute legend.

@nintendeal.com110

It seems that Takashi Tezuka may be retiring from Nintendo according to their updated personnel list. Not sure if he is leaving the company entirely, but hopefu

@tokyogamelife.bsky.social39

Takashi Tezuka holds up a Super Mario Bros. Famicom cartridge outside of the Nintendo building.

@rwmead.bsky.social36

A portrait photograph of Japanese director and producer Takashi Tezuka

@toadsanime.lostincult.co.uk31

Nintendo Director Takuya Yoshimura who worked on games like 'Zelda: A Link to the Past' and 'Super Mario Bros. 3' and Takashi Tezuka are retiring. www.nintendo.

@knoebel.bsky.social27

If there was ever a particularly nasty jump or ingenious puzzle in a 2D Mario or Zelda game that drove you nuts, Takashi Tezuka was probably the person who desi

@mudron.bsky.social8

Nintendo's Takashi Tezuka announces retirement: Saying goodbye to an absolute icon

@gonintendo.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy5

3 sources

famiboards.comTakashi Tezuka is retiring from Nintendo's Board of Directors in June 2026 (unknown if he's still working at Nintendo)videogameschronicle.comNintendo’s Takashi Tezuka, director of classic Mario and Zelda games, is retiring | VGC gonintendo.comNintendo's Takashi Tezuka announces retirement

Related

New Star Fox game shocks fans, soundtrack added to Nintendo Musicgaming Mortal Kombat 1 Definitive Edition adds skins tied to MKII moviegaming Takashi Tezuka to retire as Nintendo executive in Junegaming Genshin Impact Luna VII Special Program, update launches May 20gaming