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Shigeru Miyamoto says “I don’t really play games by myself anymore,” years after confirming Nintendo hires people who “aren’t super passionate game fans”
Nintendo's veteran designer Shigeru Miyamoto has revealed that he rarely plays video games alone anymore, instead preferring to experience them with family or colleagues. The comment builds on earlier remarks in which he acknowledged that not all Nintendo staff are hardcore gaming enthusiasts, suggesting the company values broader creative and professional skills over pure fandom when hiring. This offers a rare personal glimpse into how one of gaming's most influential figures now approaches the medium he helped define.
Miyamoto, best known for creating Mario, Zelda and Donkey Kong, has previously discussed Nintendo's hiring philosophy, noting that the company recruits people who "aren't super passionate game fans" in order to bring diverse perspectives and skills to development. His latest remarks about no longer playing solo reinforce a picture of games at Nintendo being treated as a communal or social activity rather than a solitary pursuit, even for the designers who make them. The article frames this as consistent with Nintendo's broader philosophy of prioritising varied talent and shared play experiences over conventional notions of "gamer" credentials.
In short
- Miyamoto says he no longer plays video games by himself.
- He prefers gaming with others, such as family.
- Echoes past comments that Nintendo hires non-"hardcore" staff too.
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The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Nintendo's approach reflects a mature understanding that exceptional design requires diverse skills and perspectives rather than gatekeeping based on gaming fandom. By recruiting talented professionals who may not be hardcore enthusiasts, the company brings fresh creativity and ensures games serve broader audiences rather than just devotees. Miyamoto's preference for communal gaming experiences suggests a thoughtful philosophy centred on social connection and accessibility, an approach that has proven commercially and creatively successful.
The case against
For a creative medium like video games, deep personal passion and solitary engagement are arguably essential for genuine understanding of what makes the medium compelling. The suggestion that even the company's legendary designer no longer plays games alone risks indicating a disconnect between creators and their medium, potentially prioritising corporate efficiency over the passionate vision that drives innovation. Without developers who are themselves absorbed players, design choices may become driven by metrics and market research rather than authentic creative conviction rooted in genuine love of the form.
Explained simply
Shigeru Miyamoto is a long-time Nintendo designer who helped create Mario, Zelda and Donkey Kong. Those series have made him one of the best-known figures in video games, and his comments can offer a glimpse into how Nintendo thinks about making and playing them.
Nintendo is a Japanese games company whose staff include designers, artists, engineers and other specialists. Miyamoto has said that being an avid game player is not the only quality it looks for when hiring, reflecting the range of skills involved in developing games.
His perspective matters because Nintendo’s games reach a broad audience, and the company is known for experiences people can enjoy together. It also shows that even a veteran creator’s relationship with games can change over time.