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 previously.

The upcoming release of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD on January 16, 2025, for the Nintendo Switch has stirred controversy due to the omission of the original developers from Retro Studios in the game's credits. This remastered version of the beloved 2010 Wii platformer brings enhanced graphics and additional content to a new generation of players on the Switch.

The Nintendo Switch has become a leading platform for retro gaming, thanks to its portability and extensive library of classic titles. Nintendo has embraced this trend by remastering and remaking various iconic games, including Super Mario RPG, Advance Wars, and even lesser-known titles like the Famicom Detective Club series. The Donkey Kong Country series is part of this revitalization effort.

However, with the release of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD approaching, it has been confirmed that the credits list only includes the staff from Forever Entertainment, the company responsible for porting and enhancing the game for the Switch. Instead of acknowledging the original Retro Studios team, the credits simply state 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 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 the exclusion of full original credits in Metroid Prime Remastered. He felt "let down" by Nintendo's choice to omit the names of former Retro Studios members. Other developers have echoed this sentiment, labeling the practice as "bad practice."

The issue of crediting is significant in the gaming industry, as credits play a crucial role in the career development of game developers. Proper crediting in remastered titles is also seen as a way to honor the original teams' efforts. Nintendo has faced additional criticism for not crediting translators and imposing restrictive non-disclosure agreements on them, preventing acknowledgment of their work on 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 revise their policies.