Miyamoto: I’m Not a Genius

Shigeru Miyamoto, a name legendary in the gaming world, is often hailed as one of the most innovative figures in entertainment. Yet, Miyamoto himself shies away from such accolades, particularly the label of a “genius.” During Nintendo’s latest earnings briefing, he humbly dismissed the notion that his longstanding track record of success is attributable to some innate genius.

“You called me a ‘genius,’ but I see myself as quite ordinary,” he remarked.

Miyamoto elaborated, mentioning that every year he addresses Nintendo’s new hires, and their feedback often surprises him. They tend to find him “surprisingly ordinary.”

Creating successful games has paved an easier path for Miyamoto’s career. He shared, “I often think about how enjoyable it would be not to work at all, so I’m always pondering how to work more efficiently. If I’m going to tackle a project, how can I make it a hit? Because when a game is successful, it simplifies future projects.”

He also shared insights he provides to newcomers at Nintendo. Many new employees arrive with dreams of crafting “upgraded versions” of their favorite games. However, Miyamoto encourages a different mindset.

“In game design, it’s about observing the world around us and piecing together engaging elements into a game,” he explained. “It involves planning—assessing what hardware and development environment to use, determining if the desired game is feasible with the available processing power, and experimenting to bring it to life.”

Miyamoto’s career at Nintendo is nothing short of remarkable. Since joining the company in 1977, he has been pivotal in creating classics like Donkey Kong, Super Mario Bros., and The Legend of Zelda. At 71, he remains a crucial figure at Nintendo as a “Creative Fellow,” contributing across a multitude of game franchises. Beyond video games, he served as an executive producer for the 2023 Super Mario Bros. Movie and is set to produce the upcoming live-action Legend of Zelda film. He also plays a part in the development of Nintendo theme parks.

While he has no plans to retire, Miyamoto is mindful of who might eventually take over his role.

On the hardware side, Nintendo’s Switch is now in its eighth year, amassing over 146 million sales worldwide. The gaming community eagerly anticipates the unveiling of the Switch 2, expected by April 2025.