A former Nintendo developer has opened up about the intense pressure inside the legendary company, saying that only “geniuses and superhumans” thrive there. Despite working on Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, he says the environment was anything but forgiving for anyone he considers “average”.
Have you ever wondered who actually has the temperament to survive at the world’s biggest gaming companies? A former Nintendo employee has now given a refreshingly candid look behind the curtain. He worked directly on The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, one of Nintendo’s most celebrated releases in recent years, yet he insists that the job is far from suitable for everyone.
What Was Nintendo Really Like From The Inside?
Koichi Miura, a game developer since 1999, joined Nintendo in 2019, where he worked on the landscape art of Tears of the Kingdom, according to VGC. Miura describes himself as an “average person”, a trait that, in a company as demanding as Nintendo, did not necessarily play in his favor.
Speaking on X/Twitter, Miura said that “Nintendo is an incredible company”, but quickly added, “I wouldn’t recommend it lightly”. He explained further, “For geniuses and superhumans it was paradise, but for an average person like me, it was hell”. Still, the experience helped him “realize I wasn’t suited for that role” and gave him “the confidence to pursue other goals”.
How Much Did He Earn Working At Nintendo?
Miura considers simply being hired by Nintendo one of the biggest accomplishments of his career. “It was the greatest thing working at Nintendo gave me. I have no regrets about aspiring to work there, getting the job, and eventually leaving,” he said. He also emphasized that “the staff were wonderful people” and that, overall, the company was “really good”. What impressed him most was how Nintendo “can produce top quality products one after another”.
In another post, he openly shared details about his salary. His pay improved significantly at Nintendo, where he earned over 70,000 dollars, compared to less than 40,000 at Bandai Namco and more than 46,000 at Square Enix. Although salary transparency is uncommon in Japan, he chose to reveal his income to encourage other freelance workers to demand fair compensation.
Source: 3djuegos
