The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Marks a Significant First for the Series

The release of The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom has introduced a poignant milestone in the franchise's history. For the first time, longtime Nintendo executive and Zelda co-creator Shigeru Miyamoto's name was notably absent from the game’s credits. This discovery, which quickly spread on social media, also revealed a detailed list of the many developers involved in the creation of Echoes of Wisdom.

Miyamoto, now 71, began his journey with Nintendo in 1977, shortly after completing his degree in industrial design. Back then, Nintendo was known more for novelty items and playing cards than for the video games it would later dominate. Inspired by arcade hits like Space Invaders, Miyamoto helped design Nintendo’s first big arcade success, Donkey Kong, which propelled him into the spotlight.

After the success of Donkey Kong, Miyamoto went on to contribute to numerous groundbreaking projects before becoming General Manager of Nintendo's Entertainment Analysis and Development (EAD) division. Despite his decades of service to the company, Miyamoto has shown no indication that he plans to retire soon.

Miyamoto has been credited in countless Nintendo titles since the 1980s, but Echoes of Wisdom stands out as an exception. According to Mastodon user Maxnichols, this is the first Zelda game since the series' inception in 1986 where Miyamoto’s name does not appear in the credits. Nichol’s transcription further notes that Miyamoto stepped back from his leadership role as far back as 2015.

That year, Miyamoto and Genyo Takeda served briefly as interim co-presidents of Nintendo after the passing of former company president Satoru Iwata. Shortly after, Miyamoto was given the title of “Creative Fellow” at Nintendo, and Tatsumi Kimishima was named the company’s new president. Miyamoto’s last two credited games were 2023’s Tears of The Kingdom and Pikmin 4, where he was listed as the general producer.

Miyamoto Absent from Echoes of Wisdom's Credits

Shigeru Miyamoto, one of the masterminds behind the Zelda franchise, is not credited in Echoes of Wisdom. This marks the first time his name has been left out of a Zelda title. His last contribution to the series was with Tears of the Kingdom.

Even though Miyamoto didn’t play a role in Echoes of Wisdom, his influence on the franchise continues, as he is currently working on the upcoming live-action adaptation of The Legend of Zelda, co-produced by Nintendo and Sony Pictures. While the film is confirmed, details on casting and a release date have not yet been disclosed.

Despite Miyamoto’s absence, Echoes of Wisdom features an impressive team of 338 developers, many of whom are newcomers to the Zelda series. With over half of the credited team having never worked on a Zelda game before, the blend of fresh talent and established mechanics has resonated with both long-time and newer fans.

While Miyamoto may not have been directly involved in Echoes of Wisdom, fans can look forward to his continued contributions to the Zelda universe and other upcoming projects. The legacy he helped build remains as strong as ever, and it’s only a matter of time before his next creation takes center stage.