Nintendo is made up of all kinds of proficient people however one one that most likely deserves just a little extra respect is Hidemaro Fujibayashi. He is been a director on the sequence since 2001 and was most lately credited on The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
With this in thoughts, he is now been featured within the seventh annual version of ‘Variety500’, which recognises him as probably the most influential enterprise leaders shaping the worldwide media trade. This is precisely what the web site needed to say about Fujibayashi and his involvement with the Zelda sequence over time:
Hidemaro Fujibayashi – Director, Leisure Planning & Improvement, Group No. 3
It’s onerous to seek out somebody extra important to the success of the Nintendo Swap than Fujibayashi, who at present directs new mainline video games for Nintendo’s “The Legend of Zelda” franchise, working in lockstep with Eiji Aonuma, its longtime producer who directed a number of of its flagship titles. Fujibayashi first labored on “Zelda” by way of a number of handheld video games developed by way of Capcom, earlier than becoming a member of the corporate and directing 2011’s “Skyward Sword” for the Wii. Fujibayashi then held a command of March 2017’s Swap launch title “Breath of the Wild” that delivered on the spot success for each the sport and the console. Six years later, “Tears of the Kingdom” did it once more. The primary Nintendo pricetag to hit $70, the Could launch exceeded expectations from critics and players alike, with greater than 10 million copies bought in its first three days. By the top of September, gross sales reached practically 20 million, making it the ninth bestselling Swap title for the reason that console’s launch, and “Tears of the Kingdom” later gained greatest motion and journey recreation on the Recreation Awards.
2023 has arguably been one of many strongest years ever for Zelda, due to the discharge of Tears of the Kingdom on Swap. An infographic earlier this week highlighted how the title was one of many top-selling video games throughout a number of areas this 12 months and likewise one of many highest-rated video games of 2023.
The identical title has additionally taken out the ‘greatest motion/journey’ at The Recreation Awards in addition to the ‘Nintendo GOTY’ on the Golden Joystick Awards. Fujibayashi beforehand labored on titles like Breath of the Wild, so it is protected to say the Zelda sequence is in good fingers below his route.
Different Nintendo staff featured on this 12 months’s ‘Variety500’ listing included Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa and Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser. Each of those Nintendo leaders have been featured in earlier years.