When Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata died in 2015, no shortage of journalists and peers stepped up to explore his legacy on the world of gaming and electronics. A VentureBeat article credited Iwata with turning video games into something with mass appeal. “The DS’s touchscreen and the Wii’s motion controls made it possible for anyone to be a gamer,” wrote Jacob Lopez. “Seniors in retirement homes were enjoying Wii Sports Bowling because Nintendo decided to go against the grain.”
The changes Iwata set in motion affected Nintendo, but they also had a broader influence on popular culture as well. His own observations on life continue to resonate in the worlds of business and technology, as do remembrances of him from his colleagues. In 2019, the book Iwata-San — which contained both Iwata’s commentary and writings about him by others — hit bookshelves in Japan. This year, Polygon reports, an English translation will be published in the United States.
Titled Ask Iwata: Words of Wisdom from Satoru Iwata, Nintendo’s Legendary CEO, the English translation of the book will contain both selections from Iwata’s discussions with developers and essays by those who worked most closely with him.
A 2019 article at Polygon noted that Iwata had hoped to turn Nintendo into “a lifestyle brand” — a goal achieved with the ascendancy of the Switch. It’s one of many ways that Iwata’s impact can still be felt, and something that makes this book more relevant than ever.
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