Hideki Konno, a legend at Nintendo known for directing the original Super Mario Kart and Yoshi’s Island, has left the company after more than three decades.

While Konno’s resignation hasn’t been made public/official yet, his personal Facebook page was updated to note he left Nintendo back in July 2025.

Originally hired at Nintendo way back in 1986, Konno was already put into leadership roles as the assistant director on Dokidoki Panic, Super Mario Bros. 2, and Super Mario Bros. 3, where he also did level designs too.

Konno saw further fame as the director on the original Super Mario Kart, its sequel Mario Kart 64, and served as a producer on a number of its subsequent sequels from Mario Kart DS all the way to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

Later in his career at Nintendo, Konno was made General Producer of their mobile division and oversaw games like Miitomo, Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, and of course, Mario Kart Tour.