Summary
- Nintendo has omitted the individual developers from Retro Studios in the credits of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD.
- This practice of condensing credits in remastered games has faced criticism from developers previously.
The upcoming release of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD on January 16, 2025, brings a remastered version of the beloved 2010 Wii platformer to the Nintendo Switch. However, this remaster has sparked controversy as it does not include the original developers from Retro Studios in its full credits.
The Nintendo Switch has solidified its position as a premier platform for retro gaming, offering portability and access to a vast library of classic titles. Nintendo has embraced the trend of remastering and remaking these classics, enhancing them with new content and improved graphics to appeal to both returning fans and new players. Examples include the enhanced remake of Super Mario RPG and the remasters of series like Advance Wars and Famicom Detective Club.
The Donkey Kong Country series is part of this remastering effort, with Donkey Kong Country Returns HD set to join the Switch library. Yet, pre-release information from outlets like Nintendo Life has revealed that the credits for this remastered version only list the staff of Forever Entertainment, the team responsible for porting and enhancing the game for the Switch, including content from the 3DS version. Instead of acknowledging the full team from Retro Studios, 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 approach to crediting is consistent with Nintendo's past practices with other Switch 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 team members. Other developers echoed his sentiments, calling the practice of omitting original teams from remaster credits "bad practice."
The issue of proper crediting is a significant concern within the gaming industry, as credits play a crucial role in the career development of game developers. Even in remastered titles, crediting the original developers is seen as a way to show appreciation for their efforts. Nintendo has also faced criticism for not crediting translators or imposing strict non-disclosure agreements on them, preventing them from acknowledging their work on major series like The Legend of Zelda. As more developers and fans voice their disapproval of such practices, the pressure on publishers, including Nintendo, to revise their crediting policies may grow.
