With the advent of Nintendo's new console, growing mobile initiative, and continued support of the 3DS platform - it seems like there has never been a more exciting time to be a Nintendo fan. This upcoming wave of releases - across all three platforms - also officially welcomes the new era of Nintendo R&D management, that sees the largest arrangement of in-house developers working under the vision of one man - Shinya Takahashi.
Manager / Producer: Hitoshi Yamagami
Project Leader: Genki Yokota, Kaori Ando
About: This group primarily concentrates on the production of externally developed games in Japan. This group is also responsible for the most amount of games at the company including Pokémon, Fire Emblem, Kirby, Style Savvy, and others.
Released Works:
- Bayonetta 2 [Nintendo Switch | Q1 2018]
- Kirby: Star Allies [Nintendo Switch | Q2 2018]
- Fire Emblem: Three Houses [Nintendo Switch | Q2 2019]
- Bayonetta 3 [Nintendo Switch | Q? 202?]
EPD Production Group No. 2 - Nintendo Co., Ltd.
Manager / Producer: Toshiharu Izuno
Project Leader: Tomomi Sano, Kodai Matsumoto
About: This group primarily concentrates on the production of externally developed games in Japan. Most of the projects revolve around sports tiles like Mario Tennis Aces and RPG titles like Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr's Journey.
Released Works:
- Mario Tennis Aces [Nintendo Switch | Q2 2018]
Future Works:
- Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr's Journey [Nintendo 3DS | Q2 2019]
EPD Production Group No. 4 - Nintendo Co., Ltd.
Manager / Producer: Kouichi Kawamoto
Project Leader: Yuichiro Ito, Tsubasa Sakaguchi
About: This group of developers is managed by the lead developer of the Brain Age series, and focuses on delivering quirky, casual and accessible experiences that focus on expanding the market like 1-2 Switch and Nintendo LABO.
Released Works:
- Miitopia [Nintendo 3DS | Q4 2016]
- 1-2 Switch [Nintendo Switch | Q2 2017]
- Nintendo LABO: Toy-Con 01 - Variety Kit [Nintendo Switch | Q2 2018]
- Nintendo LABO: Toy-Con 02 - Robot Kit [Nintendo Switch | Q2 2018]
- Nintendo LABO: Toy-Con 03 - Vehicle Kit [Nintendo Switch | Q3 2018]
- TBA
EPD Production Group No. 7 - Nintendo Co., Ltd.
Manager / Producer: Katsuya Yamano?
Project Leader: Goro Abe, Ryutaro Takahashi, Takehiko Hosokawa
About: This group of developers is managed by Yoshio Sakamoto's right hand-man who worked on the Metroid, WarioWare, and Tomodachi series. This group has multiple teams who work on WarioWare, Rhythm Tengoku, Tomodachi, and the 2D iterations of Metroid.
Released Works:
- Rhythm Tengoku + [Nintendo 3DS | Q3 2015]
- Miitomo [iOS / Android| Q2 2016]
- Metroid: Samus Returns [Nintendo 3DS | Q3 2017] (Co-developed by Mercury Steam)
- TBA
EPD Production Group No. 8 - Nintendo Co., Ltd.
Manager / Producer: Koichi Hayashida
Project Leader: Kenta Motokura, Futoshi Shirai, Shinya Hiratake
About: This group of developers is managed by Koichi Hayashida, who was the lead Super Mario Galaxy designer and creator of NES Remix. This group currently focuses on 3D Mario titles like Super Mario Odyssey and Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker.
Released Works:
- NES Remix Pack [Wii U | Q3 2014] (Co-developed by Indies Zero)
- Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker [Wii U| Q4 2014]
- Ultimate NES Remix [Nintendo 3DS | Q4 2014] (Co-developed by Indies Zero)
- Super Mario Odyssey [Nintendo Switch | Q4 2017]
- Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker [Nintendo Switch | Q3 2018]
- TBA
EPD Production Group No. 9 - Nintendo Co., Ltd.
Manager / Producer: Kosuke Yabuki
Project Leader: Kenta Sato, Yusuke Shiraiwa
About: This group of developers is managed by the lead developer of the Mario Kart and Nintendogs series, and focuses on arcade franchises like Arms and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
Released Works:
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe [Nintendo Switch | Q2 2017]
- Arms [Nintendo Switch | Q2 2017]
- TBA
President: Hirohide Suguira
Project Leader: N/A
About: A Japanese video game developer owned by Nintendo and best known for developing the Xenoblade series alongside assisting as an art support team for several main franchises.
Released Works:
- Xenoblade Chronicles [Wii| Q4 2010]
- Xenoblade Chronicles X [Wii U| Q4 2015]
- Xenoblade Chronicles 2 [Nintendo Switch | Q2 2017]
- TBA
President: Shigefumi Kawase
Project Leader: N/A
About: A Japanese video game developer closely affiliated with Nintendo and best known for developing the Kirby series.
Released Works:
- Kirby Planet Robobot [Nintendo 3DS| Q4 2016]
- Bye Bye! Box Boy [Nintendo 3DS| Q2 2017]
- Kirby Star Allies [Nintendo Switch | Q1 2018]
- TBA
President: Toshiyuki Nakamura
Project Leader: N/A
About: A Japanese video game developer closely affiliated with Nintendo and best known for developing the Fire Emblem, Wars, and Paper Mario series.
Released Works:
- Paper Mario: Color Splash [Wii U | Q4 2016]
- Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia [Nintendo 3DS| Q2 2017]
- WarioWare Gold [Nintendo 3DS | Q3 2018]
- Fire Emblem: Three Houses [Nintendo Switch | Q2 2019]
President: Michael Kelbaugh
Project Leader: N/A
About: An American first-party video game developer and division of Nintendo based in Austin, Texas. The studio is best known for its work on the Metroid Prime series and the Donkey Kong Country series.
Released Works:
- Metroid Prime Trilogy [Wii | Q3 2009]
- Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze [Wii U | Q2 2014]
- Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze [Nintendo Switch | Q2 2018]
- TBA 2019
Next-Level Games Inc.
President: Doug Tronsgard
Project Leader: N/A
About: An video game developer based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Founded in October 2002. On January 9, 2014, the studio announced that it would work exclusively with Nintendo from then on.
Released Works:
President: Doug Tronsgard
Project Leader: N/A
About: An video game developer based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Founded in October 2002. On January 9, 2014, the studio announced that it would work exclusively with Nintendo from then on.
Released Works:
- Punch-Out!! [Wii | Q2 2009]
- Luigi's Mansion 2 [Nintendo 3DS | Q2 2013]
- Metroid Prime: Federation Force [Nintendo Switch | Q2 2016]
Future Works:
- Luigi's Mansion 3 [Nintendo Switch | TBA 2019]
First Party Release Archive
Nintendo 3DS / Wii U
- Super Mario Maker (Nintendo / Nintendo EPD PG No. ?)
- The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes (Nintendo / Nintendo EPD PG No. ?)
- Miitopia (Nintendo / Nintendo EPD PG No. 4)
- Super Mario Run (Nintendo / Nintendo EPD PG No. ?)
- Tank Troopers (Nintendo / Nintendo EPD PG No. ? / Vitei)
- Fire Emblem Heroes ( Nintendo / Tecmo-Koei / Omega Force / Team Ninja)
- Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido (Nintendo / Nintendo EPD PG No. 1 / Indies Zero)
- WarioWare Gold (Nintendo / Nintendo EPD PG No. ? / Intelligent Systems)
- Tomodachi Collection (Nintendo / Nintendo EPD PG No. 7)
- Super Mario Run (Nintendo / Nintendo EPD PG No. ?)
- Fire Emblem Heroes (Nintendo / Nintendo EPD PG SD / Intelligent Systems)
- Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp (Nintendo / Nintendo EPD PG SD / ND Cube)
- Dragalia Lost (Nintendo / Nintendo EPD SG / Cy Games)
- 1-2 Switch (Nintendo / Nintendo EPD PG No. 4)
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Nintendo / Nintendo EPD PG No. ?)
- Snipperclips (Nintendo / Nintendo EPD PG No. 2 / Nintendo Software Technology / SFB Games)
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Nintendo / Nintendo EPD PG No. 9)
- Arms (Nintendo / Nintendo EPD PG No. 9)
- Splatoon 2 (Nintendo / Nintendo EPD PG No. ?)
- Fire Emblem Warriors ( Nintendo / Tecmo-Koei / Omega Force / Team Ninja)
- Super Mario Odyssey (Nintendo / Nintendo EPD PG No. 8)
- Xenoblade Chronicles 2 (Nintendo / Nintendo EPD PG No. 1 / Monolith Soft)
- Bayonetta 1+2 ( Nintendo / Nintendo EPD PG No. 1 / Platinum Games)
- Nintendo Labo: Toy Con 01 - Variety Kit (Nintendo / Nintendo EPD PG No. 4)
- Nintendo Labo: Toy Con 02 - Robot Kit (Nintendo / Nintendo EPD PG No. 4)
- Hyrule Warriors Deluxe ( Nintendo / Tecmo-Koei / Omega Force / Team Ninja)
- Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido (Nintendo / Nintendo EPD PG No. 1 / Indies Zero)
- Mario Tennis Aces (Nintendo / Nintendo EPD PG No. 2 / Camelot Software)
- Flip Wars (Nintendo / Over The Fence)
- Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker (Nintendo / Nintendo EPD PG No. 8)
- Nintendo Labo: Toy Con 03 - Vehicle Kit (Nintendo / Nintendo EPD PG No. 4)
- Super Mario Party (Nintendo / Nintendo EPD PG No. ? / ND Cube)
- Pokémon: Let's Go (Nintendo / The Pokémon Company / Game Freak)
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Nintendo / Nintendo EPD PG No. ? / Sora / Namco-Bandai Games)
First Party News Archive
- Nintendo hiring planner for a 3D action-adventure game (https://wccftech.com/nintendo-3d-game-planner/ | 12.01.17)
- Nintendo hiring planner for Splatoon 2 DLC (https://nintendoeverything.com/nintendo-hiring-splatoon-2-level-designer// | 12.25.17)
- Ojiro Fumoto , Japanese indie developer responsible for Downwell, joins Nintendo. (https://www.polygon.com/2018/1/23/16922898/downwell-ojiro-fumoto-nintendo | 01.23.18)
- Nintendo recruiting level designers to join the next Zelda team. (https://wccftech.com/nintend-legend-of-zelda-designer/ | 05.07.18)
Last edited: