Iwata started at Nintendo in 1980 as a programmer and helped bring success to the Kirby series, Super Smash Bros, and Earthbound. He became the fourth president in 2002 and has overseen the release of the Nintendo DS, 3DS, GameCube, Wii, and Wii U.  Furthermore, Iwata opened communication between fans and Nintendo with his series “Iwata Asks” which interviews developers about upcoming games.

Iwata’s death comes as a shock to many fans. With new initiatives such as moving Nintendo to mobile we can only wait and see which direction Nintendo will now take. 

One thing is certain: Satoru Iwata will be sincerely missed by fans.