Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata passed away on July 11 (Saturday) due to a bile duct tumor, the company said in a statement issued Monday (July 13).
He was 55 years old.
Iwata started out in Nintendo as a programmer, helping create some of company’s legendary titles, such as EarthBound and the Kirby series.
He also had a hand in successfully rolling out the popular Nintendo DS and Wii consoles.
The well-loved Iwata was appointed as the company’s president in May 2002, succeeding Hiroshi Yamauchi, to become the fourth president in the history of Nintendo — the first outside of the Yamauchi family.
In June 2013, he was appointed as the CEO of Nintendo.
The company has not announced Iwata’s successor yet, but executives Genyo Takeda and Shigeru Miyamoto will manage the company in the interim.
Upon hearing the sad news, Nintendo fans all over the world, who adored Iwata for his involvement and personality, took to Twitter to mourn his death.
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RIP Iwata-san. Such an incredibly sad day. Iwata is an irreplaceable legend. Playing some Kirby in your honor tonight pic.twitter.com/LmeTdFpibJ
— Cory Blackledge (@CoryBlackledge) July 13, 2015
Thank
you for all the joy you've brought into our lives. Rest in peace Mr. Iwata.
pic.twitter.com/giw7xK6CpT
—
xiao ₍՞◌′ᵕ‵ू◌₎ | е✿r (@cheekypantsu) July
13, 2015
Mario
might be Nintendo's face but Iwata was Nintendo's heart
—
Nibel (@Nibellion) July
13, 2015
Iwata-San
loved what he did. He was responsible for the memories of so many gamers &
he cherished that responsibility b/c he loved it.
— Becks Hernandez
(@ArchivistGeek) July
13, 2015
A
dark cloud hangs over the game industry today. Rest well, Mr. Iwata, you will
remembered for all your amazing work.
— Jon Jafari (@JonTronShow)
July 13,
2015
RIP
Iwata you wonderful goof pic.twitter.com/KTKYZqj0Ab
—
The Doof Worrier (@alex_navarro) July
13, 2015
Friendly
reminder at how amazing Iwata was at his job. pic.twitter.com/XP81Bpmswm
—
Balrog (@BalrogGameRoom) July
13, 2015
I
feel Iwata would want us to celebrate his life with the same joy we had playing
his games. No tears. pic.twitter.com/ewPpOR9ssu
—
boesoe (@Bonesaw577) July
13, 2015
I
think Iwata publicly embodied a lot of the characteristics that people enjoy
most about Nintendo's games. Good-natured to the core. RIP.
—
MattBodega (@MattBodega) July
13, 2015
“On
my business card, I am a corporate president. In my mind, I am a game developer.
But in my heart, I am a gamer” – Satoru Iwata, GDC 2005
— Lorenzo
Grajales (@renzosh) July
13, 2015
