Nintendo Entertainment Planning & Development Division,[a]abbreviatedNintendo EPD,is the largest division within the Japanese video game companyNintendo.The division focuses on developing and producing video games, mobile apps, and other related entertainment software for the company. Nintendo EPD was established in September 2015 after merging theirEntertainment Analysis & DevelopmentandSoftware Planning & Developmentdivisions.
 | |
 Exterior of the Nintendo Development Center in Kyoto | |
Native name | Nintendo xí họa chế tác bản bộ |
|---|---|
Romanizedname | Nintendō Kikaku Seisaku Honbu |
| Company type | Division |
| Industry | Video games |
| Predecessors | |
| Founded | September 16, 2015 |
| Headquarters | , Japan |
Number of locations | 2 (Kyoto and Tokyo) |
Key people |
|
| Brands | |
| Parent | Nintendo |
| Divisions |
|
History
editThe division was created on September 16, 2015, after theconsolidationof two of Nintendo's former software divisions,Entertainment Analysis & Development(EAD) andSoftware Planning & Development(SPD), as part of a company-wide organizational restructure under Nintendo's newly appointed president,Tatsumi Kimishima.[1][2][3]
The division assumed both of its predecessors' roles, focusing on thedevelopment of gamesand software for Nintendo platforms andmobile devices;it also manages and licenses the company's variousintellectual properties,alongside producing and supervising development for external studios.
Shinya Takahashi, former general manager of Nintendo SPD,[4]has the same title in EPD, withYoshiaki Koizumi,Katsuya Eguchi,Eiji Aonuma,andHisashi Nogamias deputy general managers, and,Kensuke Tanabe,Yoshio SakamotoandTakashi Tezukaas senior officers. The others had been in such positions since the division's formation, and Aonuma, Tanabe, and Nogami were promoted into higher positions within the division in 2019.[3][5]By 2023, Takahashi and Koizumi were promoted to more senior positions, with Takayuki Shimamura being named deputy general manager and Aonuma and sound designerKoji Kondonamed senior officers.[6][7][8][9]
Structure
editMainly located in Kyoto, the Nintendo division works similarly to its two predecessors before the merger and is divided into many groups. It has ten production groups responsible for development or production of games, each of them having their own managers, producers and project leads working on specific series and focus, with them using the pool of talents in the division for each project. In the overall division, the general manager, deputy general managers, and senior officers oversee different aspects in those production groups. There are currently 10 production groups in Nintendo EPD, and the known groups in the department are:
- Co-Production Group, previously known as Production Group No. 2 until 2023, produces most of the games developed by external studios and published by Nintendo, such as theKirby,Xenoblade Chronicles,Fire EmblemandMario & Luigiseries.[10][11][12][13][14]
- Production Group No. 3 develops the mainThe Legend of Zeldaseries.[15]
- Production Group No. 4 develops casual and experimental games such as1-2-Switch,Nintendo Labo,Ring Fit Adventure,Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain,Jump Rope Challenge,Game Builder Garage,Nintendo Switch SportsandEverybody 1-2-Switch!.[16][17][18]The division also co-developedAlarmowithNintendo PTD.[19]
- Production Group No. 5, with group managerAya Kyogoku,develops theAnimal CrossingandSplatoonseries.[20][21][22]
- Production Group No. 6 oversee and produce games developed by external studios and published by Nintendo, such as thePaper Mario,Metroid PrimeandLuigi's Mansionseries.[23]
- Production Group No. 7 co-develops 2DMetroidgames withMercurySteamandFamicom Detective Clubgames withMAGES.[24]
- Production Group No. 8, also known as Nintendo EPD Tokyo, develops 3DSuper Mariogames.[citation needed]
- Production Group No. 9 develops theMario Kartseries and also worked onArms.[citation needed]
- Production Group No. 10 develops 2DSuper Mariogames (including theSuper Mario Makerseries) and thePikminseries.[13][25]
- Smart Device Production Group, with group managerHideki Konno,developsmartphonegames alongside other EPD groups as well as produce games by external studios.[26]
Games developed
editNotes
editReferences
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