Masahiro Sakurai Forced to Abandon Game Designers Award After 16 Years as He Can't Find a Successor

Masahiro Sakurai, renowned game designer and creator of Kirby and Super Smash Bros., has announced the end of an era as he is unable to find a suitable successor to continue the Game Designers Award. The award, launched in 2010, celebrates games that showcase creativity, originality, and innovation in the gaming industry. This year's winner was Word Game, a text-based puzzle game originally developed in Traditional Chinese characters but localized for Japanese players.

Despite the overwhelming support and recognition received by Word Game, Sakurai expressed his inability to find a replacement to continue the prestigious award. He explained that the Game Designers Award relies on the expertise of a director who has created groundbreaking games that have significantly altered gameplay. Despite extensive efforts to find a suitable candidate, none of the potential candidates were willing to take on the responsibility.

Sakurai, who has poured his heart and soul into the award, hopes that players will remain interested in creative games even after the award's demise. The Game Designers Award has recognized such innovative titles as Viewfinder by Sad Owl Studios, Indika by Odd Meter, and RPG Time: The Legend of Wright over the past three years. Fans lament the loss of this unique accolade but remain hopeful that Sakurai will focus on new projects, particularly with the rumors surrounding a new Super Smash Bros. game.