In news that has shocked the gaming industry this morning, Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata, 55, has passed away after a long period of ill health.
Iwata-san died on July 11 due to a bile duct growth, an issue that he had been battling for some time. The much-loved executive joined Nintendo in the 1980s and became the CEO of the House of Mario in 2013. Iwata-san saw the company through some of its most lucrative periods, such as the DS and Wii, which sold in their millions worldwide.
In light of the industry giant’s passing, Sony and a number of other gaming companies have paid their respects on Twitter. You’ll find them below.
PSU would like to extend our condolences to Mr. Iwata’s family and friends at this time. He will be greatly missed.
Thank you for everything, Mr. Iwata.
— PlayStation (@PlayStation) July 13, 2015
RIP, Mr. Iwata. Thanks for all the incredible fun and inspiration.
— Neil Druckmann (@Neil_Druckmann) July 13, 2015
Endless thanks and respect to Iwata-san. His talent and humor made the world a better place.
— Capcom-Unity (@Capcom_Unity) July 13, 2015
"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." – Iwata-san
— Bungie (@Bungie) July 13, 2015
Really sad to hear about Iwata-san’s passing today. As a fan of Nintendo since the NES, my heart goes out to his family, friends, & fans.
— Adam Boyes (@amboyes) July 13, 2015