Donkey Kong Country Returns HD has recently launched, bringing the beloved 2010 Wii title to a new generation with an updated port. However, one notable aspect of the release has raised eyebrows—Retro Studios, the original team behind the game, is not credited individually in the updated version. GameSpot first reported this omission, leading to further scrutiny.
In response to this, Nintendo has provided a statement to Eurogamer, expressing their commitment to recognizing all contributors to their games. “We believe in giving proper credit for anyone involved in making or contributing to a game’s creation, and value the contributions that all staff make during the development process,” the company stated.
The statement, sourced solely to Nintendo, does not reference specific individuals. The credits for Donkey Kong Country Returns HD confirm that the port was handled by Forever Entertainment.
The issue of crediting has long been a point of contention within the industry, with Nintendo previously facing similar concerns. For instance, some developers who contributed to the original Metroid Prime expressed dissatisfaction when the Metroid Prime Remastered credits did not reflect the full range of original contributors. External translators have also voiced frustrations regarding their omission from credits in major Nintendo titles, as reported by Game Developer last year.
This pattern extends beyond credits, with Nintendo remaining notably private about certain aspects of their games. There’s a growing trend where details, such as the studios involved in development or voice actors, are not always disclosed, further fueling the conversation around transparency in the gaming industry.
