Donkey Kong HD Credits Omit Original Developers

Summary

• Nintendo has excluded the individual developers from Retro Studios in the credits of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD.
• This practice aligns with Nintendo's history of condensing credits in remastered games, which has drawn criticism from developers.

The upcoming release of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD on January 16, 2025, brings a remastered version of the beloved 2010 Wii platformer to Nintendo Switch owners. This remaster, which includes enhancements and content from the 3DS version, has sparked controversy due to its credits.

The Nintendo Switch has become a premier platform for retro gaming, thanks to its portability and extensive library of classic titles. Nintendo has embraced the trend of remastering and remaking its iconic games, enhancing them with new content and improved graphics. Notable examples include the remakes of Super Mario RPG and Advance Wars, as well as the revival of narrative-driven games like the Famicom Detective Club series.

However, the excitement surrounding Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is tempered by the revelation that the original developers at Retro Studios have been omitted from the remastered version's full credits. According to reports from Nintendo Life, the credits screen only acknowledges the staff of Forever Entertainment, the company responsible for porting and enhancing the game for the Switch. Instead of listing the Retro Studios team, the credits simply state that the 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 is consistent 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. Kirsch expressed feeling "let down" by the exclusion of former Retro Studios members. Other developers echoed his sentiments, labeling the practice of omitting original teams from remaster credits as "bad practice."

The issue of crediting is a significant concern within the game industry, as credits play a crucial role in the career development of game developers. Proper crediting in remastered titles is not only a professional courtesy but also a way to honor the hard work of the original teams. Nintendo has faced additional criticism for not crediting translators and imposing restrictive non-disclosure agreements on translation partners, particularly for major series 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.