Here’s a thought that’s equal parts inevitable and a little heartbreaking: Shigeru Miyamoto, the father of modern gaming, is continuing his slow, graceful walk away from game development.

In a new interview highlighted by Nintendo Life and originally from Casa Brutus, the legendary creator behind Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda, and the entire Super Mario universe hinted that he’s entrusting more and more of his iconic creations to the talented teams at Nintendo.

We’ve known for a while that Miyamoto has been shifting his focus. His last direct director role was on Super Mario Run, and after acting as general producer on Pikmin 4, his energy has been increasingly poured into the world of film, like the massively successful Super Mario Bros. Movie and its upcoming sequel.

But this new interview makes his evolving role even clearer.

Entrusting the Plumber to a New Generation

Miyamoto explicitly stated that he now has “teammates who help maintain the world of Mario,” and he entrusts much of the work to them. His current hands-on involvement? He makes a point to personally play the first 30 minutes of new Mario games to meticulously check the interface, ensuring “it really feels like Mario.”

It’s a quality-control pass from the man who defined that feel.

Then, he delivered the line that feels symbolic. With a laugh, he suggested he might soon even stop doing that, saying, “But maybe I’ll say, ‘I won’t look anymore!’”

His main wish? Simply to stay healthy. He specifically mentioned hoping to be around for Mario’s 50th anniversary, which is just a decade away. It’s a humble goal from a man who has given us so much, acknowledging the passing of the torch while looking forward to the future milestones of his creations.

All Aboard the Super Mario Galaxy Movie Hype Train

The interview also gave us a tiny, exciting update on The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (yes, that’s the official title for the sequel). Miyamoto confirmed the film is in its “final stages of production” and, in his understated way, offered the opinion that “it’s going to be fun.”

We already got a sneak peek thanks to a Pillsbury product listing (of all things) that prematurely revealed Yoshi’s introduction. The film is set to launch on April 3, 2026, with a trailer reportedly dropping later this month before screenings of Wicked.

So, what do you think? Is Miyamoto’s gradual step-back a natural and healthy evolution for Nintendo? Or does the thought of him not even checking that first 30 minutes make you a little nervous for the soul of future Mario games? Let’s chat in the comments.

Source: Casa Brutus, via Video Games Chronicle. Original story by Ollie Reynolds at Nintendo Life.