Gamers mourn as Nintendo chief passes away at 55

It is a sad start to the week for gamers as one of the industry's icons passed away over the weekend.

 

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata died at age 55 last Saturday, July 11, the company said in a statement.

 

"Nintendo Co., Ltd. deeply regrets to announce that President Satoru Iwata passed away on July 11, 2015 due to bile duct growth," Complex.com quoted Nintendo as saying in a statement.

 

Complex.com noted Iwata took over as Nintendo head in 2002, and was at the helm when Nintendo introduced the DS and the Wii.

 

But it was also under his watch that Nintendo's sales declined, while he was not too keen on developing mobile-friendly games.

 

Still, Complex.com noted Nintendo managed to make $132 million in profit last year.

 

Iwata was the fourth president of Nintendo since it started in 1889—and the first president not related to the founding Yamauchi family.

 

His health problems became public when he did not attend the 2014 E3 Expo due to bile duct surgery, and missed this year's expo. 

 

Tributes

 

Gamers and groups took to social media to thank Iwata for his contribution to the gaming industry.

 

"Thank You for everything you've done Satoru Iwata. Rest in Peace. You're legacy will never die out!" said PokeRangers.

 

"Rest in Peace Satoru Iwata, President of Nintendo. You have inspired the world for generations to come!" said SonsAndBros.

 

Vox.com's German Lopez wrote an article thanking Iwata for bringing "so much joy to my childhood."

 

Lopez noted Iwata was heading Nintendo through the GameCube, Wii, DS, 3DS, and Wii U eras, and worked on hit titles such as Earthbound, Pokemon, Kirby, The Legend of Zelda, and Smash Bros.

 

"Even as he rose through the ranks of HAL Laboratory and later Nintendo, Iwata always struck me as someone who genuinely cared about the joy of gaming more than anything else," Lopez wrote.

 

Lopez said he will always remember Iwata "as someone who wasn't afraid to innovate, but who always strived to put gamers first in all his work." —Joel Locsin/KG, GMA News