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.
• Nintendo's practice of condensing credits in remastered games has faced criticism from developers in the past.

The upcoming release of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD has sparked controversy due to Nintendo's decision to omit the original developers from Retro Studios in the game's credits. Scheduled for release on January 16, 2025, this remastered version of the 2010 Wii classic is set to enhance the gaming experience for Nintendo Switch users.

The Nintendo Switch has become a leading platform for retro gaming, thanks to its portability and a vast library of classic titles. Nintendo has capitalized on this trend by remastering and remaking beloved classics, such as Super Mario RPG and the Advance Wars series, and even bringing lesser-known narrative games like Famicom Detective Club back to life. The Donkey Kong Country series is another beneficiary of this trend.

As the release date for Donkey Kong Country Returns HD approaches, it has been confirmed by news outlets with pre-release access that Nintendo has omitted the staff of Retro Studios, the developers behind the 2010 Wii original, from the full credits. According to Nintendo Life, the credits screen only lists the staff from Forever Entertainment, the company responsible for porting and enhancing the game for the Switch, including content from the 3DS version. Instead of fully crediting Retro Studios, the credits include a line stating 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 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, expressed disappointment over Nintendo's exclusion of the full original credits in Metroid Prime Remastered. He felt "let down" by the omission of team members who were no longer with Retro Studios during the remaster's development. Other developers have echoed this sentiment, labeling the exclusion of original teams from remaster credits as "bad practice."

Crediting is a critical issue in the game industry, as it plays a significant role in the career development of game developers. Even in the realm of remastered titles, acknowledging the original developers is seen as a gesture of appreciation for their hard work. Nintendo has also faced criticism for not crediting translators and imposing restrictive non-disclosure agreements that prevent them from disclosing their involvement in key series like The Legend of Zelda. With increasing public scrutiny from developers and fans, the pressure is mounting on publishers, including Nintendo, to revise their crediting practices.