Summary
- Nintendo has excluded the individual developers from Retro Studios in the credits of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD.
- Nintendo's past practice of condensing credits in remastered games has drawn criticism from developers.
The highly anticipated release of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is set for January 16, 2025, and it brings a remastered version of the beloved 2010 Wii platformer to Nintendo Switch players. However, it has come to light that the original developers from Retro Studios have been omitted from the credits of this remastered edition.
The Nintendo Switch stands out as one of the premier platforms for retro gaming, thanks to its portability and extensive catalog of classic games. Nintendo has embraced the trend of remastering and remaking its iconic titles, enhancing them with new content and improved graphics to appeal to both long-time fans and new audiences. Recent examples include the enhanced remake of Super Mario RPG, remasters of the Advance Wars series, and even underappreciated narrative games like the Famicom Detective Club series, which have found new life on the Switch.
The Donkey Kong Country series is part of this remastering trend. As the release date for Donkey Kong Country Returns HD approaches, media outlets with early access have confirmed that Nintendo has left out the Retro Studios team, who developed the original 2010 Wii game, from the full credits of the remastered version. According to Nintendo Life, the credits screen only lists the staff from Forever Entertainment, the studio responsible for porting and enhancing the game for the Switch, including content from the 3DS version. Instead of acknowledging the full Retro Studios team, the credits simply state that the remastered game is "Based on the work of the original development staff."
Nintendo Omits Retro Studios From Donkey Kong Country Returns HD Credits
This decision to condense the credits in Donkey Kong Country Returns HD aligns with Nintendo's approach to other Switch-based re-releases. In 2023, Zoid Kirsch, a former programmer and senior gameplay engineer at Retro Studios for the first two Metroid Prime games, publicly criticized Nintendo for not including the full original credits in Metroid Prime Remastered. He expressed feeling "let down" by Nintendo's choice to exclude the names of former Retro Studios members during the remaster's development. Other developers echoed his sentiments, labeling the practice of omitting original teams from credits as "bad practice."
The issue of proper crediting is increasingly significant in the gaming industry, as credits play a crucial role in the career development of game developers. Even in the realm of remastered titles, crediting the original developers is seen as a way to honor the hard work and dedication of teams that spent years crafting beloved games. Additionally, Nintendo has faced criticism for not crediting translators and imposing restrictive non-disclosure agreements that prevent translation partners from acknowledging their work on major franchises like The Legend of Zelda. As more developers and fans voice their concerns about improper crediting practices, there is growing pressure on publishers, including Nintendo, to reconsider their approach to crediting.
