Miyamoto 'overcome with sadness' at Iwata's passing

One legendary Nintendo game designer remembers another, and promises to do Iwata proud with the company's future efforts.

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The sudden passing of Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata has produced a variety of reactions from those inspired by his career and legacy, but another voice has now been added: his friend and colleague, Shigeru Miyamoto.

"I am surprised at this sudden news and overcome with sadness," Miyamoto said in a statement to IGN. "The entire development team at Nintendo will remain committed to our development policy which Mr. Iwata and we have been constructing together and to yield the development results which Mr. Iwata would appreciate."

Satoru Shibata, president of Nintendo of Europe, also released his own statement. "It is difficult to put into words the sadness we feel at this time. Mr. Iwata was a strong leader, a unique figure in the gaming industry and an important part of  Nintendo's history. He was a visionary in every sense of the word and we will miss him dearly," he said. "Just as Mr. Iwata challenged us to always push forward, we will ensure his legacy lives on through our ongoing work to always surprise and delight our fans. At this time our thoughts are with his family."

Miyamoto and senior managing director Genyo Takeda are taking control of the company's affairs in the interim while a new CEO is chosen. Miyamoto, a longtime game designer and producer on several projects, is considered a frontrunner for the role. 

For a more detailed look back at Iwata's life and legacy, read our retrospective.

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