WarioWare series chief director Goro Abe has announced that he left Nintendo at the end of February, marking the end of a near 26-year tenure at the company. On his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Goro Abe states that he will continue to be involved in the games industry after having left Nintendo, revealing that he will begin work as a professor at the Osaka Electro-Communication University for its newly established “Games for Social Design” major in April.
Here’s the full message from professor Abe translated by Final Weapon staff writer and lead translator Ryuji:
“I left Nintendo at the end of February.
Starting in April, I will work as a professor at Osaka Electro-Communication University, as part of their newly established major (Games For Social Design).
Because of my plans to pursue on research related to games, as well as engage in game development, I hope to connect with a wider and more diverse range of people than ever before.”
WarioWare: Move It!, the previous entry in the series, was released on November 3, 2023 for Nintendo Switch. Abe served as chief director of WarioWare: Move It!.
Here’s an overview of the game, via the Nintendo eShop:
Strike a pose with a multitude of motion-based microgames in a brand-new entry in the WarioWare series!
Grab a pair of Joy-Con controllers and get moving as you gently shake, punch, dance, wiggle, and even curtsey through over 200 lightning-fast microgames (minigames that last just a few hilarious seconds). Chop bamboo, break out of jail, return a curtsey, and more as you master some really ridiculous moves.
The secret to these madcap minigames is perfecting your form. Some of these will require some…um…unique movements! Help Wario complete a series of lightning-fast microgames to escape the Woods Watchers!
You can play Story Mode with a pair of Joy-Con controllers or a second player can join in some couch co-op fun with another set of Joy-Con controllers. Up to 4 players, each with one Joy-Con controller, can laugh out loud in the local Party Mode’s minigames, like a board game with Wario-style rules!
