In a bit of a surprise post today, longtime Nintendo composer Yasuaki Iwata revealed on Twitter that he hasn’t been with Nintendo since July 2023. As he writes, “In July of last year, I took a step in a new direction by leaving my position at Nintendo.” He then thanked everyone for the support he has received over the years and expressed gratitude for the projects he was a part of. You can read the rest of his message below:
“I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who supported me over the years, to those who enjoyed my work, and to everyone who listened to the music through the projects I was a part of. I’ve been working on new projects since my departure, and I hope to have the opportunity to share some of these with you in the near future. If there are those who would like to continue following my journey, I’d be truly grateful, and I hope you look forward to what’s to come. Thank you very much for your continued support!”
Yasuaki Iwata isn’t exactly a household name, but he has contributed to the last decade of Nintendo software. His first credited work for Nintendo is on Super Mario 3D World in 2013 and he contributed a massive amount of songs as a co-composer of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. He was also responsible for composing most of the themes in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, especially the hourly tunes that play throughout the day.
As for what’s next, Iwata said that he has been composing new music in the wake of his departure. “I’ve been working on new projects since my departure, and I hope to have the opportunity to share some of these with you in the near future,” he said. It seems likely that Iwata will still be involved with video games, which makes sense considering his portfolio.
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Written by Peter Glagowski
Peter has been a freelance gaming and film critic for over seven years. His passion for Nintendo is only matched by the size of his collection.
