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'''Masahiro Sakurai''' ('''桜井政博''', Sakurai Masahiro born August 3, 1970) is a video game designer. He is credited for the creations and development of the [[wp:Kirby|Kirby]] series and the [[Super Smash Bros.]] games.
[[File:Masahiro Sakurai.png|right|thumb|200px|Masahiro Sakurai]]
'''Masahiro Sakurai''' (Japanese: '''桜井政博''' ''Sakurai Masahiro'', born August 3, 1970) is a video game designer and the creator and director of the ''{{wk|Kirby}}'' and the [[Super Smash Bros. series|''Super Smash Bros.'' series]].


Sakurai was once an employee of HAL Laboratory, Inc., a third-party video game developer for Nintendo. It was here at HAL where he being 19, created Kirby. He would also develop [[Super Smash Bros.]] and [[Super Smash Bros. Melee|its sequel]]. Sakurai resigned from HAL on August 5, 2003 mostly out of belief that both video game industry and gamers believed in a sequel to every game HAL released. Many fans were in despair, believing that the Kirby and Super Smash Bros. series would cease development.
Masahiro Sakurai was once an employee of [[HAL Laboratory, Inc.]], a second-party video game developer for Nintendo. It was here at HAL where he being 19, created Kirby. He would also develop ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'' and [[Super Smash Bros. Melee|its sequel]]. Sakurai also ran a column for ''Weekly Famitsu'' from 2002 to 2021; it is the longest-running column in the publication run by a game developer.<ref name=MSCGAbout/> Sakurai resigned from HAL on August 5, 2003 mostly out of belief that both video game industry and gamers believed in a sequel to every game HAL released.


After his resignation from HAL, he worked at Q Entertainment, another game developer. Sakurai announced formation of his own company, Sora Ltd. Along with other companies, they produced the highly-anticipated [[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]], the third game to the Super Smash Bros. games. Currently, Sakurai began a first-party studio, Project Sora, which is owned by Nintendo and Sora Ltd.
After his resignation from HAL, he worked at Q Entertainment, another game developer and designer. Afterward, Sakurai announced the formation of his own company, Sora Ltd., which functions as a shell company for Sakurai to conduct business. Along with other companies, they produced the highly-anticipated ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'', the third game to the Super Smash Bros. games. Sakurai began a first-party studio, Project Sora, which is owned by Nintendo and Sora Ltd. Project Sora closed on June 30, 2012, though Sora Ltd. remains.
 
After completing ''{{ip|Kid Icarus: Uprising}}'' on the [[Nintendo 3DS]], Sakurai teamed up with {{wp|Namco Bandai}} to develop ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U]]'', with both titles being released in most regions at the end of 2014.
 
On August 23, 2022, Sakurai started a YouTube series, ''Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games'', with the stated goal "to try and help make games around the world a little more fun".<ref name=MSCGAbout>"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7M-DnOIeasA About This Channel]." [https://www.youtube.com/c/sora_sakurai_en/ Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games]. ''YouTube''.</ref> In this series, Sakurai discusses a variety of topics related to game development and production, as well as his work as a game designer and director. This series is available in both English and Japanese.
 
==Works==
===Games===
{| class="sortable" style="background:#A0A0C4; {{roundy|10px}}; border:5px solid #BBBBE8; margin:auto"
|-
! style="background-color:#CCCCFF; {{roundytl|5px}}" | Title
! style="background-color:#CCCCFF" | Platform
! style="background-color:#CCCCFF" | Release date
! style="background-color:#CCCCFF; {{roundytr|5px}}" | Position
|- style="background:#FFF"
| {{wp|Arcana (video game)|Arcana}}
| [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]]
| 1992-03-27
| Special Thanks
|- style="background:#FFF"
| {{wk|Kirby's Dream Land}}
| [[Game Boy]]
| 1992-04-27
| Director, Chief Designer
|- style="background:#FFF"
| {{wk|Kirby's Adventure}}
| {{nw|Nintendo Entertainment System}}
| 1993-03-23
| Director & Game Designer
|- style="background:#FFF"
| {{wk|Kirby Super Star}}
| [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]]
| 1996-03-21
| Director
|- style="background:#FFF"
| [[Super Smash Bros.]]
| [[Nintendo 64]]
| 1999-01-21
| Director
|- style="background:#FFF"
| {{wk|Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards}}
| [[Nintendo 64]]
| 2000-03-24
| Voice Actor (as {{wk|King Dedede}})
|- style="background:#FFF"
| {{wk|Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble}}
| [[Game Boy Color]]
| 2000-08-23
| Special Thanks
|- style="background:#FFF"
| [[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]
| [[Nintendo GameCube]]
| 2001-11-21
| Chief Director
|- style="background:#FFF"
| {{few|Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade}}
| [[Game Boy Advance]]
| 2002-03-29
| Special Thanks
|- style="background:#FFF"
| {{wk|Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land}}
| [[Game Boy Advance]]
| 2002-10-25
| Chief Director
|- style="background:#FFF"
| {{wk|Kirby Air Ride}}
| [[Nintendo GameCube]]
| 2003-07-11
| Director
|- style="background:#FFF"
| {{wk|Kirby & The Amazing Mirror}}
| [[Game Boy Advance]]
| 2004-04-15
| Special Advisor
|- style="background:#FFF"
| {{wp|Meteos}}
| [[Nintendo DS]]
| 2005-03-10
| Game Design
|- style="background:#FFF"
| [[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]
| [[Wii]]
| 2008-01-31
| Director
|- style="background:#FFF"
| {{ip|Kid Icarus: Uprising}}
| [[Nintendo 3DS]]
| 2012-03-22
| Director & Scenario
|- style="background:#FFF"
| [[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U]]
| [[Nintendo 3DS]], [[Wii U]]
| 2014-09-13<!--earliest 3DS release, Japanese-->/2014-11-21<!--earliest Wii U release, American-->
| Director
|- style="background:#FFF"
| [[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]
| [[Nintendo Switch]]
| 2018-12-07
| Director
|}
 
==References==
<references/>
 
==External links==
* [https://twitter.com/Sora_Sakurai Masahiro Sakurai's Twitter]
* [https://www.youtube.com/c/sora_sakurai_en/ ''Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games'' — YouTube] (English)
* [https://www.youtube.com/c/sora_sakurai_jp/ ''Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games'' — YouTube] (Japanese)


{{stub}}
[[Category:People]]
[[Category:People]]

Latest revision as of 12:36, 21 October 2022

Masahiro Sakurai (Japanese: 桜井政博 Sakurai Masahiro, born August 3, 1970) is a video game designer and the creator and director of the Kirby and the Super Smash Bros. series.

Masahiro Sakurai

Masahiro Sakurai was once an employee of HAL Laboratory, Inc., a second-party video game developer for Nintendo. It was here at HAL where he being 19, created Kirby. He would also develop Super Smash Bros. and its sequel. Sakurai also ran a column for Weekly Famitsu from 2002 to 2021; it is the longest-running column in the publication run by a game developer.[1] Sakurai resigned from HAL on August 5, 2003 mostly out of belief that both video game industry and gamers believed in a sequel to every game HAL released.

After his resignation from HAL, he worked at Q Entertainment, another game developer and designer. Afterward, Sakurai announced the formation of his own company, Sora Ltd., which functions as a shell company for Sakurai to conduct business. Along with other companies, they produced the highly-anticipated Super Smash Bros. Brawl, the third game to the Super Smash Bros. games. Sakurai began a first-party studio, Project Sora, which is owned by Nintendo and Sora Ltd. Project Sora closed on June 30, 2012, though Sora Ltd. remains.

After completing Kid Icarus: Uprising on the Nintendo 3DS, Sakurai teamed up with Namco Bandai to develop Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U, with both titles being released in most regions at the end of 2014.

On August 23, 2022, Sakurai started a YouTube series, Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games, with the stated goal "to try and help make games around the world a little more fun".[1] In this series, Sakurai discusses a variety of topics related to game development and production, as well as his work as a game designer and director. This series is available in both English and Japanese.

Works

Games

Title Platform Release date Position
Arcana Super Nintendo Entertainment System 1992-03-27 Special Thanks
Kirby's Dream Land Game Boy 1992-04-27 Director, Chief Designer
Kirby's Adventure Nintendo Entertainment System 1993-03-23 Director & Game Designer
Kirby Super Star Super Nintendo Entertainment System 1996-03-21 Director
Super Smash Bros. Nintendo 64 1999-01-21 Director
Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards Nintendo 64 2000-03-24 Voice Actor (as King Dedede)
Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble Game Boy Color 2000-08-23 Special Thanks
Super Smash Bros. Melee Nintendo GameCube 2001-11-21 Chief Director
Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade Game Boy Advance 2002-03-29 Special Thanks
Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land Game Boy Advance 2002-10-25 Chief Director
Kirby Air Ride Nintendo GameCube 2003-07-11 Director
Kirby & The Amazing Mirror Game Boy Advance 2004-04-15 Special Advisor
Meteos Nintendo DS 2005-03-10 Game Design
Super Smash Bros. Brawl Wii 2008-01-31 Director
Kid Icarus: Uprising Nintendo 3DS 2012-03-22 Director & Scenario
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U Nintendo 3DS, Wii U 2014-09-13/2014-11-21 Director
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Nintendo Switch 2018-12-07 Director

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "About This Channel." Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games. YouTube.

External links

Retrieved from "https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/w/index.php?title=Masahiro_Sakurai&oldid=3587614"