Nintendo has just released a statement declaring the passing of Nintendo President Satoru Iwata. The statement reads as follows:
“Nintendo Co., Ltd. deeply regrets to announce that President Satoru Iwata passed away on July 11, 2015 due to a bile duct
growth.”
Iwata was 55 years old. The CEO at Nintendo of America since June of 2013, Iwata worked on the frontiers of the Nintendo brand for most of the company’s failures and successes. He first joined the Nintendo family back in the 1980s, working on games such as Balloon Fight and Earthbound. Iwata lead the charge in bringing innovative game experiences to the living room, and was heavily responsible for the influx of motion controls that are now common in the gaming world.
Most importantly, Iwata was never too shy to goof off, crack a joke, or go the extra mile to put a smile on the face of Nintendo fans. Not only was he a huge icon in the gaming world for his work as an innovator, but also as a personality, putting a joyous and welcoming face on a multi-million dollar corporation. His contributions to the video game landscape will never be forgotten, and he will undoubtedly be missed by everyone. May you rest in peace, Mr. Iwata.
This story is developing and we will continue to update it as details arise.