ShareThis
Update: Nintendo has tweeted out a video of Reggie Fils-Aime, discussing his retirement.
Nintendo fans, Reggie has a message for all of you. Please take a look. pic.twitter.com/EAhaEl5oEJ
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) February 21, 2019
In a surprising announcement made Thursday, Reggie Fils-Aime announced his plans to retire as president of Nintendo of America. He will be replaced by Doug Bowser, the company’s current Vice President of Sales and Marketing.
Fils-Aime has been with Nintendo since 2003. Starting as the company’s Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Reggie quickly endeared himself to a fickle Nintendo fanbase with his introduction at E3 2004 (“I’m about kickin’ ass, I’m about takin’ names, and we’re about makin’ games”). A uniquely vocal persona for a company known for being notoriously tight-lipped, Fils-Aime helped change the culture of the company when he took over as president starting in 2006, shortly before the release of Wii. In the years since, Reggie has become one of the most recognizable faces in the entire video game industry, appearing in countless promotional videos, Nintendo Direct presentations and more.
In a statement released by Nintendo, Fils-Aime explained his reason for leaving the company:
“Nintendo owns a part of my heart forever,” Fils-Aime said. “It’s a part that is filled with gratitude – for the incredibly talented people I’ve worked with, for the opportunity to represent such a wonderful brand, and most of all, to feel like a member of the world’s most positive and enduring gamer community. As I look forward to departing in both good health and good humor, this is not ‘game over’ for me, but instead ‘leveling up’ to more time with my wife, family and friends.”
Fils-Aime leaves the company at a much better time than when he first started. In 2003, Nintendo’s GameCube was a well-regarded system, but not quite the sales powerhouse that Wii, and now Switch, turned into. One thing is for sure: Doug Bowser certainly has big shoes to fill!
Fils-Aime’s last day at Nintendo will be April 15. What’s your favorite memory of Reggie? Let us know in the comments below!
Source: Nintendo
