Koichi Miura, who worked as a landscape artist for Tears of the Kingdom, has left Nintendo. In his Tweet, he explains that the company is a haven for geniuses, but hell for an average person.
It doesn’t seem like Miura is bitter about leaving, as his translated Tweet states that he has no regrets, and he thinks Nintendo is an incredible company. Nevertheless, he wouldn’t recommend it lightly. Though the company is ideal for geniuses, Miura felt as though he wasn’t cut out for the environment. Ultimately, he discovered that he “wasn’t suited for the role,” which has given him the confidence to pursue other goals.
A high-pressure environment isn’t for everyone
It’s not entirely obvious how Miura’s comments should be interpreted. Nintendo has a reputation for being very tough to join, as it has high standards and expectations. Former contractors claim that it is a stilted environment with employees “apologizing profusely if they left even 15 minutes early.” You’re also expected to be “connected all the time.”
Even with this in mind, it’s difficult to see why Miura would see himself as not suited for his role. His career history is beyond impressive, and he has worked for both Bandai Namco and Square Enix. He has credits on numerous critically acclaimed games including Kingdom Hearts 3, Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War, and Ridge Racer V, to name a few. It would seem that he is adequately qualified for his position, so we may be witnessing a case of imposter syndrome.
In an interview with Encount (translated by Google), Miura comments on his Tweet, stating that by coming into contact with talented and highly motivated people, he realized he wasn’t the right fit. He is currently a YouTuber and freelance CG designer, and while he doesn’t yet know what he wants to do with his life, he does reveal that he likes cars.
Though Nintendo may have lost Miura, the company keeps marching forward. Super Mario RPG recently launched and has been receiving raving reviews. You can also look forward to Princess Peach: Showtime! hitting stores in 2024.
