This Is How Nintendo Hires Game Designers

Advertisement
By Rishi Alwani | Updated: 31 December 2017 14:47 IST
Highlights
  • Nintendo looks for game designers who have interests outside of gaming
  • Some of its current stars did not play video games till joining
  • This diversity helps in making games that stand out

With the Nintendo Switch spearheading the Kyoto-based company’s return to ascendancy, the console’s unique hardware isn’t its only selling point. There have been a slew of solid titles for the Switch such as Super Mario Odyssey, Splatoon 2, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, aside from a host of PS4 and Xbox One ports too.

Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto revealed how the company manages to keep its games fresh and diverse — by hiring those with varied interest outside of video games. To the point where some of the company’s best performers had no experience playing video games when they were hired.

“I always look for designers who aren’t super-passionate game fans,” Miyamoto said in an interview with The New York Times. “I make it a point to ensure they’re not just a gamer, but that they have a lot of different interests and skill sets.”

Advertisement

Want to Buy the Nintendo Switch In India? You Need to Read This First

 

It’s a different approach when compared to how other video game companies hire for talent, but with good reason. Miyamoto’s aim is to get those more likely to create new kinds of gameplay styles and mechanics instead of refining current ones.

Advertisement

Nonetheless, the company has been quiet on what to expect from it in 2018. With no Mario or Zelda game in sight, it will be interesting to see how it maintains momentum after having a fantastic first year, selling over 10 million Nintendo Switch consoles.

 

Catch the latest from the Consumer Electronics Show on Gadgets 360, at our CES 2026 hub.

Advertisement

Related Stories

Popular Mobile Brands
  1. YouTube Takes on OpenAI's Sora With AI-Generated Shorts Feature
  2. Ubisoft Cancels Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Remake, Delays 7 Games
  3. Aadukalam Streaming on SunNXT: Know Everything About Plot, Cast, and More
  4. Ubisoft's Franchises Will be Handled by 5 New Units as Part of 'Major Reset'
  5. NexDeck's New Smartphone Lets You Boot Android 16, Linux and Windows 11
  6. OnePlus Nord 6 Arrives on Geekbench With These Key Specifications
  7. Here's When the Redmi Note 15 Pro and Note 15 Pro+ Will Launch in India
  8. Sony LinkBuds Clip Launched With Open-Ear Design at This Price
  9. Top Deals on Soundbars From Sony, JBL, Sonos, More During the Amazon Sale
  10. Apple Might Be Developing an AI Pin and Robotic Home Hub
  1. Scarpetta OTT Release Date: Nicole Kidman Turns Forensic Pathologist in This Upcoming Series
  2. Dhurandhar OTT Release Date Update: When and Where to Watch Ranveer Singh and Akshay Khanna Starrer Online?
  3. DoT Allows Licence-Free Use of Lower 6GHz Spectrum for Wi-Fi Routers, Sets Power Limits
  4. Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Remake Cancelled Alongside Five Unannounced Ubisoft Games
  5. YouTube Takes on OpenAI’s Sora, to Soon Let Users Create AI-Generated Shorts Using Their Own Likeness
  6. Redmi Note 15 Pro Series India Launch Date Announced; Company Confirms 200-Megapixel Rear Camera
  7. NexPhone Unveiled With 64-Megapixel Camera and Support for Android 16, Linux and Windows 11
  8. Spotify Lawsuit Led to Court Order That Cut Off Anna’s Archive Domains, Court Documents Show
  9. Bitcoin Price Today: Positive Crypto Market Sentiment Helps Bitcoin Reclaim $90,000 Level
  10. Thadayam OTT Release Details Revealed Online: Know Everything About This Upcoming Crime Thriller Series
Gadgets 360 is available in
Download Our Apps
Available in Hindi
© Copyright Red Pixels Ventures Limited 2026. All rights reserved.