Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has passed away aged 55. An icon of the gaming world, Iwata succumbed to stomach cancer over the weekend.
Iwata had been ill since at least 2014, when Nintendo announced that he would not be attending E3 due to illness. Soon after, he underwent surgery to remove a malignant bile duct growth. Despite assuring fans that he was “progressing well” on Twitter, there was little news until Nintendo announced his death on Sunday.
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Read more: Nintendo president Satoru Iwata passes away at 55
Always a fan of video games, Iwata began developing them in high school. Following high school, Iwata was admitted to the Tokyo Institute of Technology, where he majored in computer science. It was there that he began freelancing for game developer HAL Laboratory, which frequently collaborated with Nintendo.
Working his way through the HAL ranks, he helped it turn its fortunes around, he assisted in the development of Pokémon Gold and Silver, released for the Game Boy Color in November 1999. At the same time, he aided in the programming of Pokémon Stadium for the Nintendo 64 by reading the original coding in Pokémon Red and Green and reworking it for the new game.
In 2000, he took a position at Nintendo as the head of its corporate planning division. Just two years later he took over as president, presiding over some of Nintendo’s biggest successes. Perhaps the brightest moment during his tenure was the launch of the Wii, which helped catapult the casual gaming revolution.
In the wake of the news, gamers from around the world took to Twitter to remember Iwata. Memeburn has rounded up some of the most beautiful tributes:
Everything about Satoru Iwata is how a CEO of a game company should be.
— Inkling Dan (@NaughtyDog4Life) July 13, 2015
Rest In Peace, Satoru Iwata. Thank you. pic.twitter.com/jGLYRtjzW9
— ::: Valdivia ::: (@valdiviagm) July 13, 2015
Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata passes away at age 55. #ThankYouIwata http://t.co/Yh4k4pU36Y (photo cred: @SimsJames) pic.twitter.com/qMxmXwMgIo
— Tiltify (@TiltaGame) July 13, 2015
The timeline everywhere is about paying tribute to Satoru Iwata. Video gaming industry lost a genius #RIPIwata pic.twitter.com/SZbIiG4DX1
— Ghanem Salem・ガニム (@gnm128) July 13, 2015
Satoru Iwata the Nintendo president has unfortunately passed away aged 55 he will be missed by the gaming community pic.twitter.com/C47BbprogU
— GamingforCancerUK★ (@Gaming4CancerUK) July 13, 2015
thank you satoru iwata for everything you have done! pic.twitter.com/cuEiEdfMoV
— lee (@tougekisu) July 13, 2015
Thank you for everything, Mr. Satoru Iwata. pic.twitter.com/vXV3GGQAET
— Staubfluse (@Staubfluse) July 13, 2015
“But in my heart, I am a gamer.” – Satoru Iwata 1959-2015. You will be missed. You will be remembered. pic.twitter.com/bGULe1NFt3
— Play-Asia.com (@playasia) July 13, 2015
RIP Nintendo’s Satoru Iwata. Dōmo arigatō for all the inspiring work you helped create over your lifetime! pic.twitter.com/lnVYa6pFx2
— Slingshot (@SlingshotNZ) July 13, 2015
This beautiful piece of Satoru Iwata tribute artwork comes from @BitF. *Is Misty-Eyed* pic.twitter.com/vOTntQFSji
— Platinum Edgemaster (@BlueSwim) July 13, 2015
RIP Satoru Iwata, and thank you. 
— ✨ Nadou ✨ (@BakaNadou) July 13, 2015
Satoru Iwata developed compression tools that made adding Kanto into Pokemon Gold and Silver a possibility. pic.twitter.com/xRrmpvJtGt
— Girl Sideward (@MadameColeen) July 13, 2015
So sad, 
— lessthan3 (@Fadhello) July 13, 2015
We are saddened to here the loss of Nintendo president Satoru Iwata. He will be missed, R.I.P pic.twitter.com/DrhTAzGn1S
— GAME Bullring (@GAME_Bullring) July 13, 2015
