Nintendo President Satoru Iwata Passes Away Aged 55

Very sad and unexpected news. Sorry to hear this.

Rest in peace Satoru Iwata. Thank you for everything. You will be missed.

Aww sure would miss him

Really unexpected. He created so many fun memories.... No one can replace such a creative and smart mind. May he rest in peace.

This was so sudden
May he finally get the peace he deserves.

This was completely unexpected. So awful, I think he was a really good CEO for Nintendo, and he truly seemed to care about the games Nintendo published. I hope the next CEO cares as well.

Man he will be missed

We lost one of the giants tonight. Rest in peace, Mr. Iwata, and thank you for everything.

OMG.

Rest in Peace Iwata san. Thanks for everyting

Rest In Peace Iwata. You will be missed and will never be forgotten.

He really had a lot of stress over the last couple of years but I'm more surprised we didn't really know how bad his health was. He might not go down as the best president Nintendo ever had but I feel like I lost a family member today!

This is very sad. Blessings to his friends and family.

shocked and saddened. he'll def. be missed. my thoughts go out to his friends, family, and everyone at nintendo.

This is terrible, I feel so sad, who knew the last nintendo direct would be Iwata's last...

Very sad seeing this, you've done so much over the years. Rest in peace Satoru Iwata.

Very sad news, may he rest in peace.

how horrible, he was such a goofball that it was impossible to not like him

I'm just speechless. I can't believe Satoru Iwata is gone.
Apart of me just died inside...

Devastating news. Nintendo Directs will never be the same.

Still very hard to take it in... Seems like he had quite a few years left ahead of him. I think the last words we heard from him was his apology for E3, so I hope he wasnt still upset in these last few weeks. Hopefully he died peacefully and will continue to rest in peace.

Thank you for everything Iwata, you'll be missed.

It's just me or everyone is feeling like have lost a friend.

Tragic day. Nobody saw this coming and it´s hard to believe he´s gone. It´s a sad day to be a gamer.

...
RIP, Iwata-san. Thanks for the memories.

I thought you people were trolling.

But it seems not

RIP Iwata.

Well, the world has now lost a truly great man...God be with him.
Only he knows how many lives he has changed, and how much happiness he has created...I can barely believe it''s happened, but...

Just posted asking if anyone had heard this. Was hoping it was just a dumb rumor 😭😭

I can't even believe this... Regardless, I hope he rests in peace. He's easily the only likable head of any company. It's sad to hear about the man on top of my favorite video game company dying so suddenly that it's just impossible to take it in...

Rest in peace Iwatasan.

I got this news an hour ago on IRC.

R.I.P. Iwata.

This is really hitting me hard. What I'm passionate about and what Mr. Iwata was passionate about were the same things. The way he interacted with his audience was incredibly endearing. This doesn't feel like a CEO of some multibillion dollar company passing away. It feels like I've lost a friend.

I can't believe it. This is so sudden. He will always be one of my gaming heroes. Devastated, really. RIP Iwata-san.

> This doesn't feel like a CEO of some multibillion dollar company
> passing away. It feels like I've lost a friend.

this.

This is terrible, can't think of who can take his place

Absolutely gutted. A true legend who did his absolute best for Nintendo right up until the very end.

OHMYGAWD!!! NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RIP to a legend, loved watching him in directs, so much character and genuine excitement.

RIP Mr iwata, this is very sad and unexpected news.
hugs to all my fellow nintendo fans. I feel like crying. =(

...

...

I feel hollow inside.

RIP

This news is shocking indeed. My deepest condolences to His family and friends.

This shows that death knows no age whether a person is young or old, so try to do good deeds before you pass away.

WHAT?!!???? I'm speechless.

R.I.P.

Rest in Peace..you will be missed

I can't believe it. And it's been two years since you have been appointed CEO. The day you had become CEO (~E3 2013) was the day I started to take Nintendo seriously and dedicate every day of my life checking up on Nintendo news and games. Thank you for everything, Iwata. RIP in Peace. ;(

A great man with great ideas has passed away tonight.

Who's endless dedication to the industry has brought us countless joy, even in our darkest days.

Thanks, Iwata.
Thank you for everything.

I am so sad and shocked. Rest in peace

Tragic. And so sudden too.
He will be missed.

I can't believe this... This was so sudden and unexpected. RIP Iwata you will be missed

Dude, that sucks. I normally don't care about celebrities, but video games will never be the same. My prayers go out to his family.

This man was the man who created most of my childhood memories. I havent just witnessed the death of a CEO. I've just seen one of my biggest and most respected influences taken away. Rest In Peace Iwata. You will never be forgotten!

Buddy sent me a text, I was expecting it to be fake... Aside from being the face of Nintendo, Iwata had a hand in some of my most cherished games, right up there with Miyamoto, Sakurai and Yokoi. Rest in peace sir, you will be greatly missed.

Rest In Peace Iwata San you will be missed dearly. Nintendo Directs will never be the same.

Dude so shocked at how sudden this was. irreplaceable and I feel lost now that he's gone. Can't imagine how Nintendo is going to choose a successor but I hope he's like Iwata, not that anyone will be able to replace him.

Loved watching him in the Nintendo Direct vids. He will be missed. RIP

Irreplaceable. Rest in peace

How shocking and sad... I know he was having trouble with this, but man, 55 is an age that is just too young to pass away at... My deepest sympathies to family, friends and his co-workers at Nintendo. Rest in peace Mr. Iwata, you will be missed.

Goodbye Iwata, going to miss you.
I'm going to play some Balloon Fight now, seems fitting.

Wtf, this is so sudden. I can't believe this. RIP, Iwata, and condolences to his family. I am in shock.

So shocking and so sad. How often do you feel a tug on the heartstrings for a complete stranger? This just goes to show how personable he aimed to be, and succeeded.

Wow. I don't know what to say. I didn't expect to see this type of article for another 30ish years. While 55 isn't a young age, it's still a shame to see him go so soon. I hope he rests in peace and I hope his friends/family are doing well.

The head of our belove company die before show us the NX, Iwata I swear that I'll buy, and I'll enjoy. And tell to my kids how awesome you were!

Wow that is incredibly shocking, and reading the reactions on twitter has made me cry he will be missed.

OH NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

Damn, this just feels really sudden. I knew he had health problems but Iwata always appeared happy and the way he handled it made him seem fine.
I feel really upset now. RIP Iwata. Your Direct presentations have given me some cherished memories.

Terribly sad news RIP Iwata you'll be missed.

SERIOUSLY!!?!? Iwata.... no....
This is.... so sudden. I can't believe this. This good man.... how did he deserve this? I feel like I've lost a friend, or family. Rest in peace, Iwata-san... I hope our goodbyes reach you "directly" in the after life. This is heart breaking...

This is just sad...I've known him as president of Nintendo for years, and just the fact that he's gone...I'm gonna miss him. Rest in peace Iwata, and my condolences to your family. We'll never forget you ;(.

What!? I am stunned. This is such sad news. Iwata was such a brilliant and brilliantly nice guy who always made me smile. So sad 😰

Wow. That's horrible.

This is unbelievable news... My prayers go to his family, and Nintendo. He will be missed so much, and I don't think any companies have ever had a better president.

I thought this was a Facebook hoax at first. Alas, it's not.

RIP, Iwata.

Yes he was also pretty young, I guess that's why no one ever expected this.

Rest in peace, Iwata. My condolences go to your family and friends. Although most of us knew you as the CEO of Nintendo, most of us feel like we've lost a friend. Nintendo Directs really won't be the same anymore.

Goodbye, Iwata. Thank you for everything.

Rest in peace, Iwata-San, you will be remembered and you will be missed!

Thanks for the memories Iwata, we owe so much directly to you!

This is terrible:( I am completely stunned. I just can't believe this is real.....
Thanks for providing us with such great experiences over the years, its been a blast. We will miss you dearly.

I...honestly did not expect this. He said he had been operated on and that he was fine last year...I thought the weight loss was just a result of the rehabilitation process, but this...

People have been back-handing Iwata-sensei for years, calling his leadership misguided, but he truly kept video games the way I've known them for twenty years - carrying on a legacy that many were quick to abandon. It's a shame, and it's heartbreaking, that there wasn't more I could do personally to follow in his footsteps...

Iwata-sensei...kyotsukete. Until we meet again...

A sad day for his family, friends, Nintendo, as well as all Nintendo gamers. My condolences to his loved ones! Rest peacefully, Mr. Iwata. Thank you for helping to provide so many fun memories for so many people!

My God.. This certainly came out of nowhere. R.I.P. Satoru Iwata, thank you for the wonderful experiences you have given us. Condolences to the family and friends, and of course Nintendo as a whole.

Not entirely unexpected, but still surprising none-the-less. When the news of his tumor came to light, there would have always been a fear of it coming back and/or playing a factor on his health. This is truly a great loss to not just Nintendo, but to the gaming world as a whole. He may not have been liked or taken seriously by some, but one thing that cannot be doubted was his dedication and love towards what he did.

You will be missed, Rest In Peace.

Thank you Iwata-san! You and Nintendo have given me so many cherished childhood memories!! Rest in peace Satoru.

RIP that's too young. He will be missed.

I cant believe this I didnt expect this at all the signature please understand will never be the same i feel bad for his friends and family RIP mr iwata thank you for being CEO of nintendo and u will be missed

As unexpected as death ever is, RIP Mr.Iwata, "Directly" will never be the same...and never forgotten.

This made me cry inside. It was so sudden! I loved Iwata-San and I wish I never had to say this for years:

Good-Bye, Iwata-San

Please Understand (

You'll be missed.

God! I'm more stuned and sad than when Pope John Paul II died, and I really admired him. It's like losing a friend you admire, respect, and care for deeply. Rest in Peace, Mister Iwata!

God! I'm more stuned and sad than when Pope John Paul II died, and I really admired him. It's like losing a friend you admire, respect, and care for deeply. Rest in Peace, Mister Iwata!

Oh my God I thought people were joking as many others on the internet have been. This is do sudden and such a huge shame.

The industry has lost a remarkable man.

RIP Mr Iwata.

RIP Iwata-san. Thank you for all the great memories. Gone but never forgotten!

I feel more saddened by this news than when many close friends of mine have died. A terrible loss it is.

Iwata was the kind of man that took pride in his work. Creating video games was a fine art to him. He didn't just want to see Nintendo make video games, he wanted to see them make great video games that put a smile on the face of everyone who played them.

He was a man who refused to lay off workers in hard times because he cared about them. He was a man that reduced his own pay for the benefit of the company. He was a man that would humiliate himself just to get a laugh from the fans (banana stare anyone?). He was a man that always strived to lead, rather than follow. Even at the expense of his reputation.

He is a man that I will truly miss.

This was just as sad as it was unexpected
R.I.P.

I think we need a feature or an opinion piece on Iwata.Life and times and his influences on our lives. The least we can do as a community no?

Rest in peace Iwata-San, thanks for the memories and for changing my life in great ways.

This is so sudden... My thoughts go to his family and friends. As a developer and CEO, he did his best for Nintendo. RIP Satoru Iwata, Nintendo directs will never be the same without you!

Totally shocked!
RIP Iwata-san.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

This is really sad to hear i didn't believed it until i saw the news on Nintendoeverything and GoNintendo
RIP you did what you could do for Nintendo now you can rest in peace

Really sorry to hear this, I will surely miss him and his Directs. Thank you very much for everything, everything you've done for Nintendo and for us, Mr. Iwata, rest in peace.

R.I.P. Mr. Iwata...

Like others said, he was such a nice and personable guy. It's like a friendly uncle has left us.

Very sad to read this. A big loss for gaming and society in general. He seemed like one of the few leaders who actually was a leader. His actions proved he cared about the people who worked for him. I hope for the best for his family in this very difficult time.

The Wii, though many like to slag it off, is one of my all-time favorite consoles and is no. 4 on my list of Nintendo systems right behind SNES, NES and GBA. He was responsible for that system and for that I thank him very much.

I really liked him.

I really didn't think this would happen so quick. I don't know what to say really. All I can say is rest in peace. Even that's not enough though, it's too sudden.

He helped entertain and inspire millions. I feel gutted.

Rest in peace.

Sad sad news,I can't believe what I've just read.I knew he had been ill and wasn't looking his best but I had no idea it was this serious.Poor guy.

Woah...I was not expecting this.

Our hearts and prayers go out directly to his family and friends.

Deeply sad. You will be missed Iwata.

Domo arigato gezimasta Iwata-san

Thank you for running my favorite gaming company, thank you for all the gaming memories and moment you were a part of, and thank you for everything you've done. ;_____;

One of the greatest CEOs of all time. I don't think Nintendo is better off without him, despite what a lot of a people say. A true industry legend. Rest in peace, Mr Iwata, you deserve it more than anyone.

You'll be forever missed Iwata-san. Your quirkiness always brought a smile in my face while I watched the presentations. You made nintendo relevant again last gen. We all gamers have a debt with you for helping in Kirby and Earthbound and for your incredible work at nintendo, that you took so seriously that you would lower your salary just to help the company in hard times. Rest in peace

No :,( rip Iwata

Oh i didn't like him as a CEO,but jesus i already miss him. My condolences for his family and loved ones. I know damn well no one will have the guts to troll something sad like this. He's human after all

So out of nowhere... Man, I can't even imagine Nintendo Directs from now on, just reminding us of his absense...

R.I.P Saturo Iwata a great man with a great legacy and you will be missed by millions. these are dark times

Now I will never understand directly...
We lost a great man today, and I can't even imagine Nintendo without him. Nintendo Directs will feel so empty now...

Such sad news. This man was a real inspiration. R.I.P. Iwata

While Iwata may have directly left us, he will always live on in our hearts. Thank you so much for all of the joy you have given us, Iwata. I will always remember you and hope you can finally rest peacefully now.

Thank you iwata. For everything. You were the most human and affable of Presidents. RIP.

....holy crap. Nintendo Directs won't be the same anymore, will they?

I'm going to be completely honest, I've wanted him to be fired for a while now... but not like this.

He will surely be missed. Rest in peace.

Thanks for everything you have done that made gaming so special. You will be missed.

Not like this man. Not like this. I felt we just lost a member of the triforce. Iwata-san, his family, and to all of Nintendo I will be giving out my wishes, DIRECTLY to you.

He's never coming directly to us again ;-;

We will miss you, Iwata-san. Thanks for everything you've done for us.

Very sad day. Rest in peace.

This is EXPLODING on Miiverse. R.I.P Iwata.

R.I.P Directs will never be the same again

May the lord bless you Mr. Iwata, and thank you for all of your work in the video game community.

A true legend.

Sad news indeed.
RIP Mr Iwata.

It's hard to believe. I thought the article was a hoax at first. Rest in peace Iwata.

@TwilightAngel You'd be surprised by the heartlessness some people can have.

Wow, that was a shock to read. Very sad news. I appreciate all he's done. Thanks for everything, Mr. Iwata, and may you rest in peace.

I can't believe it! I will always remember his bold vision for Nintendo in general and it is said we never will see his name at the end of Nintendo games which always made me happy. Rest in Peace Iwata

Wow. This is tough...

With deepest respect, please rest in peace.

Everything that I want too say has already been said, but I'll say it regardless. Rest In Peace Mr. Iwata, you will be greatly missed & you will never be forgotten. Your work has impacted my life in a good way & I have you too thank for it. Thank you & RIP.

Wow I just can't believe this. I'll miss you Iwata. I've never felt truly sad about a celebrity death but I guess I get it now.

No way he's dead.

No way.

My thoughts are with his loved ones. I'm so saddened by this news. He really was a joy to watch in Directs, and I always loved his sincerity and humbleness.

I can't believe this news, RIP Iwata, thank you for everything! Condolences to his family and friends. As a gamer and huge Nintendo fan boy I greatly appreciate all he did for the company. His sense of humor hosting the Directs has been a personal favorite of mine. He will be greatly missed.

Satoru Iwata's passion for gaming shone brightly. From developing calculator games to working at HAL and his position at Nintendo.

Thank you for everything, Iwata. You leave behind one hell of a legacy. I hope the developers of the future have half of your love for this wonderful medium.

My fears have come true He looked sick a month ago or so.
RIP Iwata, you will be missed

Damnit I'm crying, I didn't even know him personally but I've always looked up to him. Life is short.

This is so sad
Guess he should've eaten more of those bananas he was always holding

Bummer....

Stunned and deeply saddened. While the direction Nintendo was going could always be debated, this man's love for the industry and for fun could never be questioned.

I knew they said he had health problems, but I didn't think it was this severe. Rest in Peace, Mr. President.

May he rest in peace.. Now watch all the haters suddenly do a 180 and pretend that all their hate was just trolling and horsing around.

Rest in Peace, Iwata-san. I did not see this coming, but of course few people ever do. You will be sorely missed.

I don't even know what to say... R.I.P. Iwata...

@Skywalker I just felt like it too. :_(

WHAT!??!
Crap, I gave crap about him as a president, but he still did made brilliant decisions AND he was great when he was still a game dev.
WHY DID HE HAVE TO DIE?

http://nintendoeverything.com/nintendo-president-satoru-iwata-has-passed-away/ Tis a sad day for the Nintendo community.
In his own words...
On my business card I am a president, in my mind I'm am a game developer, in my heart I am a gamer.

And from Sakurai...
“The president of Nintendo, Satoru Iwata has passed away. He was my former employer, but even when my situation and location changed, he was always the most understanding [of me and my work]. A hard worker and a virtuous man, he always supplied me with quick, fair guidance. I believe that he was the greatest leader I could have imagined. May you rest in peace.”

Goodybye Iwata. I will miss you. We will all miss you.

very sad news indeed, R.I.P Iwata-san

So shocked when i clicked on the site and saw the story.R.I.P Satoru Iwata.

Rest in piece Mr Iwata. You will be missed dearly by everyone in the community and the industry. You moved Nintendo forward and I will deeply miss having you sending info via a Nintendo direct, "directly to me" R.I.P

Really unexcpected, so sad. Thank you for everything, Iwata san, we're gonna miss you and your "directly"s

What?! No way,you gotta be kidding me.... NOOO!!

Rest peacefully, Iwata-san. You've given me more laughs than any CEO could ever be expected to. <3

This totally came out of no where, shocking. Not that there is no sign of that, we haven't seen Iwata appearance lately, but still...

Mr. Satoru Iwata, you will be deeply missed and won't be forgotten. Thank you for everything. Rest in peace. My thoughts are for his family, friends and everyone at Nintendo.

I just feel like something is missing from me. I really like Mr. Iwata, his presentation in Nintendo Direct, his low profile way of talking, like he is not a CEO but a friend. It's a sad day, we just lost a truly great man. My eyes is teary right now.

I'm not as shocked as many, but I've had a lot of experience with this sort of thing. He hasn't looked well for sometime.

At the least he made his mark and will be mourned by all in the gaming world. Not a bad legacy.

What a horrible punch to the gut this news was.

I'm devastated. Rest in peace Iwata-san. Ugh.

R.I.P Iwata you will forever be a legend. You did so much for nintendo and created my childhood to a great one. I started with a n64 and went full way to GC, Wii and Wii U plus the handhelds from gameboy advance to 3ds i am a true nintendo fan. You brought and contributed so much to nintendo just look at how successful the handhelds were and as well as the wii. You make amazing games and it's very sad that we won't be hearing Directly anymore I am saddened you are gone and may your soul rest in peace. Thank Satoru Iwata for everything Your family well always be proud at everything and All of us fans will forever respect you as a legend.

Wow..... Rest in peace Iwata, and thank you for all you have done for us.

Thanks for the countless childhood memories! Much love Iwata

He was so young. Sad day.

My condolences go out to Iwata's family and friends.

Holy cow! I'm surprised by how sad I am about this! I know it's just a game company, but I'm really going to miss seeing him on the Nintendo Directs!

It's so sudden and so sad. I don't think any of us expected this. It's a sad day for Nintendo, and even more sad that there are some big changes in Nintendo's future and they need some strong guidance. With a situation like this involving their President, I hope they can adjust properly.

Such a great man. RIP

I'm speechless. For all my misgivings about him as president, he was an exceedingly likeable man, and his obvious passion for the beautiful art form that is video gaming is nothing short of inspirational. we shall not see his like again, and video games--no, art in all its forms--will be lesser without him.

Rest in peace, Satoru Iwata. If you want to truly honor his memory, take some time off from whatever you're doing and just sit down and play his games, like the child you once were. It's hard to ask for a more fulfilling legacy.

How sad...

@rjejr You are being summoned to this most important news. Always want to hear what you have to say.

Wow. I always wanted to be a programmer (still training), so Iwata was a idol to me. RIP man.

Such a great man will surely be missed. R.I.P.

Thank you Mr. Iwata for everything you have given us. You will be missed.

WAhhhhhhhhhhjj😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😮😮😮😮😮😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

I can't believe it, I won't please understand

He will be missed

So sad when good and respected people die. RIP Iwata-san. I won't forget your influence on me as a gamer and on the games industry as a whole. The world was privilged to have known you.

Aww. R.I.P. Satoru Iwata. Thank you for everything you have given both us and Nintendo. That was not what I was expecting to see when I came here.

Man that really sucks. R.I.P. Iwata-san.

Remember when he took that fifty percent pay cut? Iwata was an honorable man.

Wow. I feel completely blindsided. R.I.P. Mr. Iwata

RIP Iwata. You will be missed.
Please Understand </3

Wow, bummer. Seemed like a good dude.

Not totally shocking though as he was obviously very ill due to his rapid weight loss.

Rest in peace, Mr. Iwata. You helped shape my childhood and I will be forever grateful.

He will be missed.

I don't.... I can't say anything...

Oh my god. This... really sucks.

RIP Iwata

It feels so sudden, Mr. Iwata was a great president and I loved his personality. These past E3's have been very fun with the skits that he did and I loved all of the Nintendo Directs he did.

Thank you for everything Mr. Iwata!岩田さんいつもありがとうございました！(T ^ T)

Rest in peace good sir.

Sad news, RIP Iwata.

Thank you Mr. Iwata, for your amazing dedication to the art form of video gaming. You will be sorely missed.

Rest in peace, regardless of what everybody at the direct said, he was a great President for nintendo.

and i still cant believe it :/

NO F*CKING WAY!

R.I.P

Very sudden, sad, and tragic news. R.I.P. Iwata. Very sad to hear this news.

I just don't know quite what to say...
I'm upset by this more than I would've ever had imagined he was an amazing man

I was playing New Leaf last night, getting my song from KK. Iwata-san's name comes up last in those credits, and I was thinking of how many others that same night saw his name and were thankful for what he's helped to bring us.

So thanks for both screens, sir. Thank you for the joy you brought my family and friends with the Wii. Thank you for what the Wii U is, even if the industry scorns it. Thank you for bringing more smiles and more happiness to more people than I could ever hope to. Yours are big shoes to fill. And a big 1up to you wherever you are.

Iwata was one of the best. Miyamoto next president?

It’s really sad what happened, but i’m happy to see all the support gamers, and game comunity, are showing, even if you didn’t agree with a lot of his choises, he was a human being who was worried for having fun games, and not only get some money. He became a simbol of gamming and not just a CEO

This is so unexpected and tragic. He had so much life left to live.

Well, that's... shocking news. Extremely shocking... I just don't know what to think... I'm speechless. May you rest in peace mr. Iwata, you were a true legend and will be remembered as one of the most daring, inventive and outstanding CEO the world has ever seen. And why am I even up this late, I have no idea. Now I will never be able to sleep, famous people all die and stuff, jeez...

Iwata's gone... Wow. My prayers go out to his family, and for his sake I hope he went to a better place. Directs will never be the same without his presence. It's so sad that he died in the midst of all the Nintendo Digital Event backlash.

I am speechless, there are no words to convey my sadness. He is a shining star in the sky tonight

I can only express my intense sadness at the loss of such an noble human being. Iwata-san really seemed to embody the culture of Nintendo that I love. He was serious but he had no issues with making fun of himself, he was humble and he was kind even when the business he worked in was not. My condolences to his family, to Nintendo, and to the gaming community as a whole.

No way!! That's awful news... We loved you so much Iwata-san!

I did not see this coming.... Well, I didn't always agree with him, he will be missed.

That's very sad, my thoughts go out to his family. RIP Iwata-San

Really sad that his game is over so soon, but he will surely find everlasting peace in the Overthere.

sad and shocking news =,(

RIP Iwata. You will be greatly missed. Heart goes out to his family, friends and staff at Nintendo.

Very awful news indeed!!
That's why he didn't show at E3.

@BlackSpy He, of all people, would understand. And considering how self-deprecating he was, he'd think it funny, too.

I guess I should have seen this coming. I mean, he doesn't show up to E3 because he's STILL recovering from a surgery he had over a year ago? He probably already knew his fate by then, the poor man.

Iwata, you will be dearly missed. You revolutionized the game industry with your philosophies of expanding into a blue ocean, and opening the world to gaming with the Nintendo Wii, and your Iwata Asks and Nintendo Directs gave us invaluable insight into the games we all know and love. Thank You.

Rip my friend. You did a heck of a job.

This is a sad state of affairs. Rest in peace Mr. Iwata and know that we understand.

Tips Hat

Holy...I was just on/off browsing the site and this comes literally out of nowhere!

RIP

I can't help but feel some tears coming, despite me not being one to cry (even if I feel sad) over someone I do not know personally...it really does feel like this has happened to someone I've known for a long time.

Rest in Peace... That's about all I can muster right now. This has been shocking and sad for me.

End of an era. Thanks for everything Mr. Iwata. Sad day indeed.

Wow, so sad rest in peace Iwata-san. 1959-2015

Oh, this is just awful Such a sudden death too, but I guess his condition was just that serious. You will be remembered.

Rest In Peace Iwata-san, you gave us all many good memories and smiles.

I just came home from work to notice this depressingly shocking news. He will be missed.

Dear all jerks that wanted Iwata fired after E3 and the Wii U

You got your wish. You fools happy he is no longer with Nintendo?

Oh man. Sad and unexpected.

Poor guy. That's so sad and sudden. May he rest in peace. I'm going to miss his kind demeanor.

This is sadder than when Nintendo died 6-24-15. What a respectable man. He cut his own pay so that staff would not be cut. So much respect for a true leader.

Thank you for everything you did for Nintendo and for all of us Iwata-san.
You will be truly missed.

RIP, Mr Iwata.

Interesting fact about Iwata:

He's responsible for compressing Pokemon Gold/Silver down enough to fit Kanto, something Game Freak hadn't planned originally. He's also responsible for leading the debug team for Smash Bros Melee, allowing the game to release on time.

This is so shocking and saddening. Even as a grown man, I'm close to shedding tears. He's touched the lives of so many people all over the world through his charm, his wit, his humor, and his energy for life. He spread happiness to others. That was his job, and he did it so well. He loved it. You could see it. In every Nintendo Direct, he spread his happiness directly to us. I hope he knew how much happiness he gave to so many people. I will surely never forget it. He still lives with us forever through his timeless gifts, the video games he gave us.

I'll always remember how he took a pay cut when Nintendo cut the price of the 3DS as it was not yet performing up to expectations. An unnecessary move on his part (as far as my expectations as a fan who paid the original price), but a very classy and almost unheard of gesture. He has been the most public and "approachable" video game head, bar none, and I will sorely miss his Nintendo Directs. "Directly" and "please understand" are now part of Nintendo lore.

I think I'll play some Balloon Fight in his honor.

Although a lot of peope wanted him to step down (myself not nessisary included) it is heartwarming to see the comminity combine in times like this to say: thank you Iwata, for making every one of our childhoods (and even adult lives) great and amazingly fun.

Rest in Peace

Damn man.say it ain't so! Even tho Nintendo has plenty of talent over there in Kyoto his will be deeply missed. Cheers to a very intelligent and wise individual. May you rest in paradise. R.I.P

I always loved his mantality towards speaking to western territories. The man doesn't actually speak English, or very well at all, but he was always determined to go to E3 and speak to the audience in English, same with the directs. I remember reading in an article a long time ago where Nintendo had mentioned that Iwata-san had re-written he E3 script multiple times and was working really hard to memorize it.
He was so passionate about games and gamers as a whole that he wanted to speak to western gamers directly (at these events) and not rely on a translator. Getting a translator would have been WAY easier for him, but no he chose the more difficult path, speaking in English.

He will be missed, a little part of my heart broke when I saw this news, but I hope that whether his with his shinto gods or with Buddha and the gang, that he is now happy and at peace. My condolences go out with his family, friends and the company as a whole.

I thought I read a typo when I first saw this. I'm very saddened by the loss of this giant in the gaming world. I knew Mr. Iwata had been battling health problems but he just held a big meeting at Nintendo so I'd hoped he was doing better. Thank you for the wonderful gaming memories and thank you for your dedication to Nintendo, its employees and fans. There are times I was critical of you but I always knew you wanted what was best for Nintendo and its fans. My expectations were always high because you helped create a gaming legacy that was also A+ in my books. Your excellence is why so many of us have high expectations. Thoughts and prayers with your family and friends as they deal with the loss of your spirit. Rest in peace knowing millions of fans will turn on their Nintendo systems and think of you.

On a side note, I'm looking forward to the tribute i'm sure Nintendo will give him in the next Nintendo Direct. Maybe we will get to see that mug of yours one more time.

He wasn't the best CEO Nintendo has had, but certainly wasn't the worst. I really feel bad about the way we gamers, and Nintendo, has lost him. He seemed like such humble and kind person, and he wanted to preserve Nintendo's identity. Quite a sad day indeed.

Well now I am depressed...

wait what... is it true? it's the first news i read in morning ugh... it's gonna be a gloomy day for me... R.I.P Iwata-san

So sad. Really shocked. I mean sure all the signs were there and I was a bit worried, but he didn't want people to worry, apparently. A class act. Also, he had that new thinner Mii, which is just really sad now.

It's funny but I'm going to remember him staring at those bananas. He had a quirky sense of fun and I think he fought hard for things that he wanted to change. The fact that the Wii happened the way it did when there must have been tremendous resistance from shareholders that is more visible now.

So sad.

The headline stole a breath from me. Very saddened to hear such a great Nintendo fan and employee has passed on seemingly so suddenly and too soon.

May he rest in peace.

R.I.P Mr. Iwata. bows

I don't even know what to say, I'm completely in shock right now. I'm tearing up... feels like I lost a friend or a colleague right now... crazy.

Bile ducts...poor Iwata was in worse health than any of us could ever have imagined, but he never wanted us to worry: a classy human being. Truly a sad day for gaming, as we truly lost one of the greats. I'm really sad, felt like I lost a family member. Rest in peace Iwata, thanks for all the great fun you've given to all of us over the years.

RIP Iwata-san.
Its kind of silly, but I created a Mii Fighter using Iwata's likeness (like in the SSB reveal) so he can continue to smash.

@thatguyEZ well he was only the 4th president of Nintendo in its history and the first not related to Yamauchi (sp)? family. He was unique as he had a technical background and really turned Nintendo around under his watch. These are the words of a loyal and pragmatic person:

"I sincerely doubt employees who fear that they may be laid off will be able to develop software titles that could impress people around the world,"

He's actually gone... this was so unexpected. You shall be missed, Mr. Iwata.

Rest in peace Mr. Iwata. This is so sudden and sad, he died far too young. Nintendo has lost a great man. I hope you go directly to a good place.

Thank you, President Iwata. My sincerest gratitude to all of the great feats you'd accomplished. May you be very blessed in the life to come, after blessing the lives of so many. May the blessings in heaven reward you greatly, and may you find eternal joy.

Thanks Iwata-San

I still really can't believe it, even though I see more and more news stories showing up confirming it. I thought he had quite some time left, but sadly not so.

My condolences with his family and friends; I hope they know, or learn, how beloved he truly was.

@Mona-Reggie There isn't a need to talk like that. A lot of people might have wanted him to be fired, but nobody at all wished this to happen to him.

As a long time gamer and near-lifelong Nintendo fan, I'll hugely miss Iwata. He was a fantastic, creative talent, and I'll always appreciate his work on a number of classic games like Kirby and Earthbound, as well as being at the helm for the launches of the DS, Wii, 3DS and Wii U.

My mother died of similar complications a few years ago (at 63 years old) and it still sticks with me how ill she was during the last couple of months...55 is certainly way too young to go and I can only hope that Iwata's passing was a little less uncomfortable for him.

RIP Iwata-San, and thanks for all the memories. Huge condolences to his family and friends too.

Noooooooooo!!!!! 😥😥😥😥😥

Dang... This is really sad.

Rest in peace...

Man I did not see that coming...

This is terrible to hear. I wasn't expecting it. We were celebrating my grandmother's 85th birthday, and she is very much alive, although fighting cancer. Iwata was only 55, was brilliant, and his leadership philosophy influenced me more than I know right now. May God give comfort to his family and to us, Nintendo fans.

@Mona-Reggie We wanted him fired for the questionable decisions however no one wanted him to pass away. There is a BIG (VERY VERY VERY BIG) difference between the two.

Completely heartbroken.

RIP. Thank you Iwata-san for the memories and all you have done for the industry.

Does anyone else think it's strange how "sudden" his death was? Anyone remember that yamaguchi guy or whatever and his words to satoru? I'm just saying...not to be rude or anything, but maybe this isn't coincidence?

What exactly is a bile duct growth?

Man, I'm flabbergasted right now. I didn't see this coming.

@Don Most likely a tumour or something like that in the Bile Duct which is what transports bile from the Liver to the Small Intestine. It is also attached to the Gull Bladder by a small tube connecting it.

@NihonNoHoshi It's the recidive of a cancerous growth. I am not sure what it is you are implying, but that is not something that can be manipulated. And chances are Iwata knew for a good while now of the link between said recidive and his bad shape as of late. Still, the cause of death is made ambiguous and it was probably an acute complication of the malignant growth.

Just found out about his death. He made my childhood and he made me what I am today..A gamer. Its really unfortunate to hear about this. May he rest in peace.

@NihonNoHoshi No, he had been fighting cancer for a while now and was clearly showing signs of getting sicker. And he didn't die an old man.
A tumor in the bile duct is a nasty and tough thing to battle.

@NihonNoHoshi What exactly do you mean? Could you explain a little clearer?

Rest in peace, Mr. Iwata. As a lifelong supporter of Nintendo, your name is one for the history books. Thanks.

I know there were a lot of Nintendo fans that didn't really like him, but I did.

I really liked how personal he was with the fans and the producers of their games, which is something I don't feel a lot of other men in his position have done.

These were done via sessions known as "Nintendo Directs" and "Iwata Asks"

With the "Nintendo Directs", I always enjoyed how it felt like the Mr. Iwata was trying to connect with the fans on a more personal level while announcing new games or presenting new infos of previously announced but unreleased titles. It felt like he was talking to the viewers and not at them and quite often trying to add a little humor during the announcements.

With the "Iwata Asks", I liked how he would sit and talk to the people who helped create the various games that were being released on their hardware. He would come across as if he was talking to them as a fellow friend or a fan of their works and less like their boss. He seemed genuinely interested in all aspects of their projects. Asking things like, "What was the inspiration for adding (X)?" or "How did you decide to add (Y)", "Were there any major issues during development?" "What were they?" "How did you rise above them?" etc... etc...

There were also a few E3s where he made huge impressions with the audiences via his wit and his humor.

Thanks for the fun...always remember, never forget.

My deepest sympathy to Iwata's family and close friends. Rest in peace Sir.

I'm lost for words.

You will be truly, sorely missed, Iwata-san.

Rest in peace Iwata-san... Your direct legacies will live on.

Satoru Iwata, I don't care if you always agreed with him or not. The man was a visionary, he truly cared for the gamers, first and for most, even if you didn't think it. Time to fire up some old DS and Wii games (and maybe some old GB games, from his HAL days...), and "leave luck to heaven".
RIP Iwata-san, thank you for making my childhood. Thank you.

I'm going to miss his (laughs) (T ^ T)

@Bowser908 I believe Miyamoto is now the acting president of Nintendo, but I'm sure a permanent replacement will be found in good time.

I can't believe it. My jaw dropped when I saw this. 55 is way too young. Thank you for your work through the years, Mr. Iwata.

Wow....... I can't believe it...

Oh man, terrible and sad news. Didn't wanna believe it when I read it earlier. While I didn't always agree with him I had a lot of respect for him. And he will always be "the kirby guy" for me and part of my childhood.
In fact I'll go and play some Kirby in his honor now.
Thank you Mr. Iwata.

Thank you for the years of fun Mr. Iwata. You will be missed by the entire gaming community.
RIP Satoru Iwata. You will always live on in the hearts of gamers...

I am sad to read this. I really liked the man. I feel like I lost a friend. Is that weird?

My thoughts are with his family and friends.

As I didn't feel like complete crap already.

Words can't express how sad I feel now. Rest in peace Iwata, may you go directly to heaven.

Rest In Peace Mr. Iwata.

Iwata's death is symbolic for the death of Nintendo as a hardware manufacturer. He may have failed in recent years, but he brought the most innovative video game ideas ever from the wii to the ds. Rip sir, no matter how mad I may have been at you over this gen, you were vital to revolutionizing entertainment for genernations to come.

@NihonNoHoshi I'm sure his true condition was known but just kept hidden from the public, it's pretty common for corporations to do that. Apple, for instance, downplayed Jobs' medical issues for a long time as well.

R.I.P

It seems strange that the death of a distant CEO can feel like losing a friend, but it really does.

Rest in peace Iwata san.

I am sad. its an end for an era at Nintendo but this also means a new era has begun. My this era be a good one!

Shocked. Rest in peace, Iwata. Thanks for your commitment toward delivering quality games for young and old alike. You have given me and many others around the world several fond memories revolving around Nintendo games. Thank you.

I'm so devastated...

Rest in peace Iwata-san.

As so many others have said, thank you for all of the joy you brought me and my family. Yes, Nintendo is a business. But through their care for their fans and the pride they took in their work it feels like more than just a business to me.

Your game may be over, but now you start a new one. Your spirit moves on to the next level, and i hope you bring as much fun to that world as you did to this one.

Continue..?

@Nintendofan83 omg I'd be so disgusted if they ignored his death in the direct. I would not undastand. Hopefully he picks up some random fruit or veggie one last time.

I am so sorry for your loss, Nintendo. Best wishes to family, friends, acquaintances, and loved ones. May he rest in peace, and his memories forever be with us.

I'm sorry for what I've said and thought about Iwata... It's only now that I realize he was a great contribution to not only Nintendo but the entire gaming industry. It takes someone special to keep a game company firmly rooted in the principal that games are supposed to be about fun.

Thanks for keeping it real, Iwata. Here's hoping your principals will not be forgotten.

@Franklin It's the flip side - the positive side - to so many people taking the games industry personally. All of us want to see Nintendo succeed, but Satoru Iwata lived that goal every day, doing his best to be approachable and humble - our friend - while doing it.

An excellent life, filled with accomplishments.
Thank you for your work, you have touched my life and so many others.
どうもありがとうございます

@Spoony_Tech you people never knew the guy personally. He could have been a bossy and cold blooded man. He nearly sinked Nintendo with his stupid business decisions

I first saw this and scrolled past and had to double take.... It sounds cliché but yeah "it all seemed very sudden." I know that others including me as of late have kind of been giving Nintendo crap for their "subpar" E3, but there is no doubt this man lead Nintendo in such a great way! I will be miss seeing his face on Nintendo Directs and at E3. This came at a terrible time for Nintendo, when they are preparing a new home console. It is sad he will never get to see how successful, yes, successful the "NX" will be. I have faith Nintendo. I am sorry I doubted you. #DoitforIwata

@Ninstarkof Based on what people who did know him say... He seemed like a deeply compassionate and understanding person.

You can have you grievances with him, but could you be a little empathetic at the moment?

WHAT!? NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is so out of the blue! Freakin' Iawata-san was one of my heroes. This is TERRIBLE! Nintendo will not be the same without him....
http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18d68xjw0de0dgif/original.gif
岩田さん、本当にぼくから、またゲームの世界から、ありがとうございます。さよなら。

Hello Nintendolife community, I'm new here to the comments but I've been reading on this site for a while now and when I saw this article I couldn't believe my eyes. I thought maybe it was a joke but not its so real and I'm still so shocked. I'm sure everyone is, I just hope iwata will rest in peace. I don't know if Nintendo will be the same without him but I hope whoever becomes president will be as good, funny and quirky as Iwata himself. RIP Iwata I'll miss you

Very sad to pass so young, RIP

_{Chill. We don't need these kinds of posts -Lz}

Deeply saddened to hear this news. It's been said many times already, but this was very sudden and unexpected. I thought he was on the road to recovery as he seemed much more cheerful in the last few Nintendo Directs he appeared in.

Nintendo and the gaming industry have lost a truly wonderful man today. Rest in peace, Iwata-san.

I feel like I've lost a friend even though I didn't know him personally.

Adiós Iwata

Oh my god, wow. I'm shocked. Rest in peace Iwata.

@Ninstarkof Dude...show some respect.

Thanks for all the great memories, Mr. Iwata. You will be sorely missed.

This is a sad day for all Nintedo fans , I will certenly miss him presenting nintendo news to us "directly" !

@Ninstarkof Seriously, dude? Is "sinking Nintendo with his stupid decisions" the only thing you can think of now?
Guess they're still that type of people on the internet.

I wish I'd known more about him. I was shocked to hear it, and I'll miss Mr. Iwata.

What! I can't believe I just read that. What a shock. Man that's sad. Rest Peacefully and thanks for the great Nintendo experiences.

I don't know why but this has hit me hard....perhaps it's because he represent so much of our childhood, how decent of a human being he seemed to be, how precious life is.

@Skywalker
I feel ya, man. Nintendo Directs will never be the same.

Rest in peace Mr.Iwata.

Very very saddened to hear this. Rest well Iwata.

Thank you for all the memories and being a part in shaping my childhood. So shocking. RIP Iwata.

_{You need to chill. -Lz}

@Ninstarkof I saw that...listen, here. I don't care what you think. A great man died. A great man who helped shaped many wondrous memories for people, and the least you can do is show some respect.

@Spoony_Tech - Fuuu...

Just got back from a 2 day vacation, it's sweltering in my house and I was just checking NL to see what was going on over the weekend to see if Nintendo had un re-un un decide to publish Devils Third. Fuuu.. is all I got so far.

Fuu... and
55? FUUU that's hitting pretty close to home.

Now I'm thinking, gawd I hope Reggie doesn't say something stupid. Reggie is not allowed to say please understand. Nobody should, it should go w/ him.

It's kind of a whirlwind after that.

I've been speechless for so long now.....I'm at loss for words. I don't know what to say...except RIP Satoru Iwata. cries

He will be missed. Hopefully, his replacement will make good business choices for Nintendo.

By the way Nintendolife, I'm expecting an article on the significance of Iwata and the impact he has left on not only Nintendo but entertainment.

Wow, how sad, I can't believe it. RIP Iwata-san.

55 years...dammit. I never imagined his health issues were that bad! he had made both great and terrible decisions and still had a lot of way to go inside the company. Now we'll never now.

Rest in peace.

@NintendoFan64 "respect"?! LMFAO!He isn't family or friend, just a man!

Regardless of my personal feelings over Nintendo at E3, I will say that this is sad and very unfortunate news. What bothers me is where Nintendo goes now.

Iwata was handpicked to lead Nintendo by Hiroshi Yamauchi when he retired. We as fans can debate all we want the direction he took Nintendo, but one thing is for certain. He cared deeply for Nintendo and its future.

I've had my issues with Nintendo over the past few years, but I bought their systems and their games. Iwata for his part, kept me buying Nintendo's hardware, and even with all my issues, kept me as a fan. I can never put myself into his shoes or understand the pressure that he endured.

But I will say that my thoughts go out to his family, his friends, the people he worked with, and Nintendo itself.

He was a great man, and he helped keep up the legacy of Nintendo being an entertaining brand for millions of people.

I'll be honest here, I'm.... Just bothered by this..... It's just so damn sudden....

Hell, he kept on working, never took time off! Who would have thought something was wrong.

Rest in Peace Mr. Iwata, and while I will never know him or his family, they will remain in my thoughts and prayers.

I really am shocked, this is very unfortunate. He did great things for Nintendo, and, like others have mentioned, he really did a lot to try to connect with the fans with Directs, Iwata Asks... Rest in peace, you'll be remembered.

Wow... this is unreal.

Thank you for everything you envisioned Mr. Iwata. Thank you for bravely leading Nintendo, and keeping its spirit alive and well through the recent decades. Thank you for giving us amazing games and brilliant gaming systems that forever changed the industry.

You were a one of a kind leader, and a truly great man. We'll miss you Mr. Iwata.

@Ninstarkof

"you people never knew the guy personally. He could have been a bossy and cold blooded man. He nearly sinked Nintendo with his stupid business decisions."

Dude, totally uncalled for, what is really the point of saying that? The man just died, so pardon me if I react to this in a sensitive manner.

Then later you say this directed to @invictus4000:

_{And I removed it to remind everyone about what is against the rules here -Lz}

Dang... This is extremely shocking. I give my condolences to his family and to Nintendo.

...I don't mean to be "that" guy, but I'm really worried about Nintendo now. They have to have somebody as president, right?

@Ninstarkof I suggest you watch the ice you tread on.

@Ninstarkof Ah, so we can only respect family members and friends. Good to know. Screw everyone who did anything before I was born.

You will be missed Iwata-San. Truly, you left behind a good legacy. You did your part when times got tough for Nintendo and we recognize them. Thank you for keeping things fun for us, no matter what we think. Thank. You. So. Much.

Why why, he was so young. May he rest in peace.

@Ninstarkof ...Okay...look. While he has made mistakes in the past, and I never knew him, he still did some great things that made a lot of people happy, and you cannot insult someone when that person just died. It is just plain disrespectful.

@MoonKnight7 ok then. You have issues. My opinion, deal with it

Satoru Iwata made sure video games were enjoyable for everyone. Fun, laughter surprises, & special moments. This was Iwata. #RIPSatoruIwata Iwata ran the business of video games differently than anyone else dared to. His importance to the art of video games can not be overstated. He understood video games are meant to be just one thing, FUN. Fun for everyone.

@LztheQuack
@Ninstarkof won't be on any ice where he's going

Ouhis is a sad day for Nintendo, for fans, and of course-for the Iwata family. My prayers go out to them. Rest in peace Iwata. I hope that if there is a place out there beyond this life, you will be in a place full of the kind of happiness you gave to the world and more.

Terribly sad news. Rest in Peace Iwata, you will be missed.

@Ninstarkof
Difference between having an opinion and being a complete a-hole by not keeping their fat Yap shut

#gumball sux

@Ninstarkof It doesn't matter if it's your opinion. When someone dies, you show some resepect, because otherwise you look like a complete A-hole.

@Mona-Reggie No, not really. I never wanted him or any of Nintendo's senior staff fired, I just wanted to see a more Modern Nintendo that is competitive with Sony and Microsoft and was closer to their glory days with the NES and SNES.

This is the worst possible outcome for Nintendo. Iwata passing away without even having a chance to name a successor is not a good thing, especially when Nintendo is having serious issues that they have to deal with.

Now, Nintendo's future is even more uncertain.

But if you think I ever hoped he would be fired, my answer is no. I think the man did a good job. For all the flak people(myself included) gave him over the Wii U, he did guide the Wii and DS to great success.

No, I am sad that he's passed on. Regardless of my personal feelings towards his decisions running Nintendo, he was still a man with a family, friends, and co-workers who deeply cared him. That's not even going into the millions of fans that he brought joy to over the years since he was in charge of Hal.

This is horrible news for everyone involved.

I've made an account just to put this up:

RIP Mr. Iwata. Thank you for all you've given us.

@PigmaskColonel
Supposedly miyamoto is acting president

Terrible News Iwata was always cheerful and a real delight during the Directs.

RIP

This is so sad, and completely unexpected. I had to take a double-take when I first heard the news, and immediately thought it was some kind of hoax. But apparently it isn't.

Guys chill. Someone is allowed to have an opinion you don't agree with. What I don't want to see are these rather immature responses that will only end in trouble.

Nintendoomed

Pls Iwata come back, I'm crying.

@2Sang
Yep, just fluffly clouds

#beavisandbutthead is overrated

@Ninstarkof you obviously don't know anything about Nintendo. Iwata was known as one of the top CEOs of the world for the success of the Wii and for bringing up Nintendo's stock. Because of his decisions, the Wii sold the best of all the Nintendo home consoles and sold.better than the competition (Xbox 360 and PS3). How could he have been a terrible and cold blooded boss when he cut his own salary so he wouldn't have to fire anyone at Nintendo. So please know what you are talking about before spitting on a man's gravw. Of all days, this is not one of them. Show some respect.

He was very ill earlier this past year and was absence from E3 this year so I guess his illness must had gotten him. Sad plus he's still a bit young too to be passed away at this age. RIP Iwata, I will play Super Smash Bros. 4 as your Mii in your honor.

He will always be a true hero to us all.

I'll finally buy EarthBound now, in his honor. Thanks for the memories.

@Ninstarkof Stop talking. Please...just stop talking.

Oh...oh man...
This is sad, sad news. I feel...actually affected...

Now I'm...wondering who's going to replace him. Not Miyamoto, hopefully..Sakurai please come back!

For all intents and purposes, I've heard nothing but completely wholehearted compliments regarding Iwata's personality, with most people comparing his leadership favorably to Sony and claiming he ran Nintendo like a wonderful family (not taking into account how that would go for business, it obviously meant the atmosphere was pleasant).

May his family have peace.

@tsukipon I don'tknow what to tell you ppeople

@ElementSponge I wasn't trying to take away from his legacy, he presided over the company for some of my favorite systems, GameCube and 3DS. Not to mention he seemed to be a really genuine person, and truly wanted to keep the core tenets of Nintendo intact. It just seemed he wasn't really taking the company in the right direction as of late. Which I suppose is just a matter of opinion.

God bless Iwata

@Ninstarkof You are an immature piece of garbage and choose the lowest point to troll. Hopefully your insecurities don't reflect your shifty home life, because I don't wanna give you sympathy.

@Ninstarkof If you don't care about this and having nothing positive to say, then why are you commenting on this story?

You're right, more then likely, all of us never knew Iwata on a personal level. But you know what we do know? That the man spent his time and his career helping make products that made millions of people happy! That is the legacy he left in this world and that's why so many people are upset over his death.

How many people knew Steve Jobs or Micheal Jackson on a personal level? How many people know famous people, be they leaders, athletes, entertainers, businessmen, or authors on a personal level? But yet we are upset when they pass on because they left a legacy and an impact on the lives of people.

More then likely, many people never met Leonard Nimoy in person. But his death upset people, because we remember him entertaining people when he played Spock and the other various roles he did over the years.

Its called being respectful to the dead. Calling people stupid because they are upset that someone passed on that had an impact on their life is insulting.

I own several Wiis, a Wii U, a 2DS, several DSes, and have played Kirby games from when he led Hal. My life had some impact from the things he did, just as someone who bought an iphone or Mac felt a need to honor Steve Jobs when he passed on.

Its not stupid, its called respect. If he's just a "Man" to you, then go comment somewhere else. This is a comment section for a story where a man important to not only Nintendo's history, but the video game industry as a whole passed on.

I'm not just asking you, but everyone. Please, refrain from any rude comments or insults.

@NintendoFan64 no

@Ninstarkof

"respect"?! LMFAO!He isn't family or friend, just a man!"

Good heavens, you are on a roll. Yes, respect, as in respect for the dead. God, what's with you? Just because you didn't agree with him does not mean that you should show disrespect.

FYI, since you seem to have missed the etiquette class, you are being disrespectful right now. If you disagree with his policies, now is not the time to do so. Save that for the articles that talk about his policies, not his obituary.

"ok then. You have issues. My opinion, deal with it"

Ha! My issues are irrelevant. Indeed that is your opinion, which you are allowed to have, and speak out on. Just be aware that by saying such things the same day someone has passed, makes you look like a complete jerk-off while doing so.

@Ninstarkof I was only.pointing out the facts to your misinformed post. I don't need you to say anything to me. I wish you would be more respectful on the day of his passing.

SOB NOOoooooooooooo!

He's been sick for over a year. Guess this was to be expected. Kind of surprised he didn't step down if his health was getting this bad.

New president coming, big changes probably as well. Nintendo is about to go into new era.

@yuwarite Ageism is a form of hatred. You can be 80 and be a complete dumbarse.

@Ninstarkof
Aw, look at the little baby trying to be edgy with his opinions and cynicism. He just looks so cool.

Sorry guys my little brother can be quite the loser

To think we just saw him in the Nintendo Digital Event. It's also sad to see him pass away with so much hate surrounding him. As for the true Nintendo fans, I think I can speak for all of us. May all of our condolences be projected, directly, to you.

I was not expecting to see this when I logged onto the internet

RIP Mr. Iwata, you were a true giant and visionary in the gaming world, you were always such a gracious person whenever you greeted fans. You will be missed. Thank you for creating some of the fondest memories of my childhood and the childhoods of millions of people world wide and my condolences to his loved ones.

Anyways guys this little brother of mine has one cure for his idiocy.
Lack of attention. Just like a 6 year old, he'll whine and moan and get in your face but just ignore him.

@rayword45 Well, I could give the life advice 'to act his age', but he's technically a child and is acting like a child.

@LztheQuack I'm sorry you drew the short straw and have to clean this up. I appreciate it.

Wasn't he hospitalized recently because of a bile duct problem? Poor guy must have been battling this problem for years. I wonder if the recent fan backlash from the E3 thing worsened it...RIP, big guy.

I'm speechless, RIP Mr Iwata, you will be missed by many of us. Thank you for what you have done.

@yuwarite
Well my little brother hates not being talked to directly so just talk about him to other people like I am to you

@VeeFlamesNL truth

@yuwarite A 13 year old, while still a child should have enough common sense to realize that you don't insult the dead or the people that are paying their respects.

Are kids from his generation really that rude and insentive? He's not a toddler or small child, there's no excuse for that kind of behavior on a site like this!

Man, still young. Hard to believe, R.I.P.

The legacy he has left. The people he has made happy. The people he has helped. I hope everyone sits down to just play a game that he developed. Anything that has his worthy name. Kirby's Dreamland, anyone? R.I.P. Satoru Iwata.

R.I.P....... i will always think of YOU

@Caryslan
Well he certainly did act his age, of about 4. There's one in all our families. My mother told me he is going under observation for certain missing aspects of human decency.

Heard about the news 5 hours ago from a birdie tweet but I didn't believe (better to say still don't) it until I heard/ hear it from a more reliable source. Seems like only yesterday certain Nintendo "fans" we're saying he should should step down cause of Wii U and 2015 E3 failure, now this happens.

I don't normally feel sentimental about these type of situations when it comes to someone I don't personally know but I did feel something when I heard the news. I guess even more so since it was so unexpected. I will miss him and his Nintendo reports "Directly" (arm gesture) to us.

Btw I post without reading the 400+ comments but if I had to guess, someone or some people said something controversial about his death and most people are disgusted and comment it. It a predictable pattern in these type of topics with a lot of comments.

Hopefully people wouldn't pay too much attention to the hate and only focus on the positive comments in this situation. No need to give focus where it's not need.

What hurts the most is that his last words to consumers was his acknowledgement of our reaction to E3. That's rather saddening.

By the way, I read the press release that Nintendo put out. Does anyone know who the interim CEO is?

It is Miyamoto or Takeda?

I had more fun reporting him then responding to him. He dug his own hole there. Also did anyone bother checking his profile before we all turned this article upside-down??

Rest in peace, Iwata-san.

Keep on (laughing) in the clouds, Iwata-san. You inspired me to stick with Nintendo until the very end.

@FLUX_CAPACITOR Erm, yes, that's my point. They said he was still recovering, but my point is that they just said this to cover it up, and that it was actually that the surgery wasn't successful.

@thatguyEZ Uh, sorry you got the wrong guy.

RIP Iwata-san. Your legacy will be one of fun & innovation. You'll be remembered fondly by gamers everywhere, but especially Nintendo gamers.

I'm so very thankful for his influence, his charm, each and every game he worked on -and his heart.

Thank you Iwata.

I can't help but smile. He had the best job in the world.

Still can't believe it, we have lost one of gaming's great. RIP

@FLUX_CAPACITOR My biggest problem with Iwata would be 3rd parties. He didn't really do anything while he was President to win them over. Ever since the N64 days more and more 3rd party devs have been ignoring Nintendo. Sure he did some great things but the Wii some would say was pure luck. The casual crowd ate up about 70 million systems. The proof is the sales of the cube and Wii U. No casuals there. I do love my 3ds however and it's my all time favorite system.

Don't get me wrong, he did some great things and i love my Wii but marketing has never been his strong point. The Wii sold itself.

@Emaan CEOs probably have one of the most difficult and stressful jobs, and I'm really surprised he loved his job as much as he did, considering how difficult it is.

@Ninstarkof
Struck a cord, did I bro? Here, let me buy you a Wamburger and some French Cries.

@NorthLightSuplx
...

@IceClimbers Same here. It saddens me knowing he passed away dealing with all the negative comments and criticism "fans" left behind for what happened recently with E3 and amiibo to name a few. Hopefully he can rest at least knowing all the positive ones from the past.

You gave us all here a reason to like video games, you inspired us, you did many great things. There may never be another Nintendo CEO like you. Rest in well deserved peace

Rest In Please Understand.

Rest in peace, Iwata-san. Thank you for everything.

Iwata had a hand in so many great games. It's truly sad to see a good man pass away so soon.

I didn't like some of his business decisions. But I still liked the guy. His direct persona was great, that's why so many memes came out of them. He did care for the company and the games.
He will be missed.

@ultraraichu a reminder for us to not "pile it on" people. I'm sure he received much encouragement during his last days

@Mona-Reggie you have to live with that guy? Or kid? I feel for you man

I didn't agree with him on most issues, but my heart sank like a ship when I heard about this. Regardless of any flak I or anyone else may have given the man, his influence is undeniable. Rest in Peace, Mr. Iwata.

RIP

This is about as surprising news as I have ever heard. I suppose death is the heritage we all share. I am certain that Satora Iwatais in a better place though we will miss his warm personality in Nintendo Directs. His vision and inspiration have driven Nintendo to its current level of success over the past decade and Satoru Iwata-san will be missed. Thanks for all the great experiences you have given us.

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, 1959-2015

Its not really all that surprising knowing his health has been failing for quite some time, but its still shocking how quickly things can go south and how frail life can be. Say what you want about his recent business decisions, but there aren't many people like him. How many CEO's can claim to have had a hand in so many aspects of the company during his time there? Not many, certainly not within this industry.

Its funny, he may be "just a CEO" but it still feels weird knowing we won't be seeing him around anymore. It may be a bad meme now, but I really will miss hearing him say "please understand".

A great proponent for interactive entertainment being a key part of the modern family experience. He pushed innovation and demanded perfection of gameplay. May the tradition continue. Goodbye Iwata-san, and thank you.

Sad passing of Mr Iwata.

My father passed away at 55. All I can say is - it was a rip off.

I suppose we can reflect and appreciate each day we get, and not be too over-concerned about minor things.

I am sure Iwata san will want you to put down your console occasionally and go outside and look more deeply at the marvellous world we live in.

Good bye.

Thank you for everything for what you did for Nintendo Satoru Iwata. You'll be missed and I hope your in a better place now and thank you for the great memories you gave me since the N64.

My friend asked me today "So did you hear that Iwata died?" and I felt a shock go through my body. Almost immediately after, a big smile spread across my face and the feeling started to fade away as I quickly replied "You're joking!"
...My smile didn't last long.
This is the first death that I'm having a hard time grasping that they're just gone. I've only been alive a relatively short time, but still. I'm more depressed than I'd like to admit.
He was one of a kind.

@ProudasaPeacock he cared so much about games and gamers that he kept working until the end.
RIP to a great man who loved to make people happy.

@IceClimbers @ultraraichu

Been thinking about this too. Ideally his final days would've been more peaceful and not during a time where he was carrying the weight of disgruntled fans and critics being down on the company he was running. Just goes to show that death works on it's own clock and doesn't care much for mood.

This video is for Mr Iwata..R.I.P
A video to Honor Mr Iwata..https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yO2uJzcF9l0

Man I didn't expect this. Very sad. R.I.P. Mr. Iwata.

Well that basically came out of nowhere

@Steamboat_Willie Aw man. I would keep checking Brawl in the Family periodically for any updates, but I didn't want an update like this.

I'm not looking forward to the next Direct anymore.

I was really hoping to meet him one day...

He was a great man!

I thought this was some sort of cruel prank when I first heard about it. Now everything's feeling cold.

Damn. Shocking news.

the nintendo directs wont be the same without him.....Please understand

No crying until the end.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwHZwvTdnPI

@Ninstarkof To you could be "just a man" but this is very sad news to the Nintendo community especially to his family and close friends. I'm saddened because he was a great CEO of Nintendo and when I see him on Nintendo directs and E3 presentations, he seemed a pretty nice guy. So please don't be unrespectful on these kind of situations.

As a big fan of Nintendo I have grown up with the company. These past years getting into gaming watching e3 every year watching all the digital events people grow on to you, even though I have never met Mr. Iwata he was a part of my life. This is really shocking news. He will be missed. My thoughts go to his family.

Thank you, Mr. Iwata, for the joy you have brought into my life. You will be missed.

RIP you changed our lives with your contribution to gaming. Hope to see you again someday.

We apologize for the inconvenience. Please understand.

Mouth is still agape.

Before I went to work tonight, I saw him shaking hands with DeNa's lead, back straight. And now... Wow. This is so sudden.

Satoru Iwata, direct to the next.

Your legacy will live on forever Iwata-san. Thank you very much for the excellent entertainment you've provided us.