Nintendo President and gaming industry icon, Satoru Iwata has unfortunately passed away last night at the age of 55.
Nintendo has released a somber statement, saying “Nintendo Co., Ltd. deeply regrets to announce that President Satoru Iwata passed away on July 11, 2015 due to a bile duct growth.”
The news comes amidst last year’s revelation that Iwata would not be present at E3 in order to undergo surgery to remover a former growth. Unfortunately, as today’s news proves, the surgery was not enough to keep the sickness away. After continuing the fight, his body had finally succumbed to the illness.
Satoru Iwata first join the company in the mid 80’s, through his programming efforts on the hit Japanese title Earthbound. Climbing quickly up the corporate ladder, he became the company’s Director in 2000, President in 2002 and finally CEO for Nintendo of America in June 2013.
His work included both the strongest and weakest moments in the history of Nintendo, but he will be forever remembered for his heartfelt speeches to dedicated fans worldwide through his Nintendo Direct videos.
The legendary Satoru Iwata will live on in the hearts and minds of gamers and the industry he left behind, but for know, we here at Gamerspack simply hope that he rests in peace.
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