The upcoming release of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD on January 16, 2025, confirms the exclusion of Retro Studios' original development team from the game's credits. This remastered Nintendo Switch version of the 2010 Wii title only credits Forever Entertainment, the porting and enhancement studio, and incorporates content from the 3DS version. Retro Studios' contribution is acknowledged only with a generic statement: "Based on the work of the original development staff."
The Nintendo Switch, renowned for its portability and classic game library, has become a popular platform for retro gaming. Nintendo's frequent remastering and remaking of classic titles, adding visual enhancements and new content, has contributed to this. Recent examples include Super Mario RPG's remake and remasters of Advance Wars and the Famicom Detective Club games. This trend extends to the Donkey Kong Country series, making the credit omission particularly notable.
Nintendo's credit condensing practice in Switch re-releases has drawn criticism. In 2023, Zoid Kirsch, a former Retro Studios programmer on the first two Metroid Prime games, expressed disappointment over the lack of full original credits in Metroid Prime Remastered. Other developers echoed his concerns, labeling this practice as "bad practice."
Crediting in game development is crucial for developer career building and recognition. Omitting original developers from remastered titles is seen as a lack of appreciation for their significant contributions. Nintendo also faces accusations of insufficient crediting for translators, sometimes through restrictive NDAs preventing public acknowledgement of their work on franchises like The Legend of Zelda. Growing public awareness of this issue may pressure publishers, including Nintendo, to reform their crediting practices.
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