Donkey Kong Returns HD: Original Creators Omitted from Credits

Summary

• Nintendo excluded Retro Studios' developers from the Donkey Kong Country Returns HD credits.
• Nintendo's history of shortened credits in remastered games has faced past criticism from developers.

The upcoming release of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD confirms the omission of Retro Studios' original developers from the remastered version's credits. Launching January 16, 2025, this Nintendo Switch title remasters the 2010 Wii platformer.

The Nintendo Switch, boasting portability and a vast library of classic titles, is a leading contemporary retro gaming platform. Nintendo's remastering and remaking efforts, adding new content and visual enhancements, have revitalized beloved classics for both existing and new fans. Recent examples include the enhanced Super Mario RPG remake and remasters of classic series like Advance Wars, even bringing underappreciated titles like the Famicom Detective Club games to a new generation.

This trend extends to the Donkey Kong Country series. With the Donkey Kong Country Returns HD release imminent, pre-release reports confirm Nintendo's exclusion of Retro Studios' staff—the original developers of the 2010 Wii game—from the full credits. As reported by Nintendo Life, only Forever Entertainment's staff (responsible for the port and enhancements, including 3DS content) receive credit. Retro Studios' contribution is acknowledged only with a line stating the remaster is "Based on the work of the original development staff."

Nintendo Omits Retro Studios From Donkey Kong Country Returns HD Credits

This credit condensation aligns with Nintendo's approach to other Switch re-releases. In 2023, Zoid Kirsch, a former Retro Studios programmer and senior gameplay engineer on the first two Metroid Prime games, criticized Nintendo for excluding original credits from Metroid Prime Remastered. He expressed disappointment, a sentiment echoed by fellow developers who deemed the exclusion of original teams from remasters and remakes "bad practice."

Proper crediting is crucial in the game industry, vital for developers' career progression. Even in remasters, crediting original developers shows appreciation for their years of work on beloved titles. Nintendo also faces accusations of insufficiently crediting translators, or imposing restrictive NDAs preventing them from acknowledging work on key franchises like The Legend of Zelda. With growing public calls for improved crediting practices, publishers, including Nintendo, may need to adapt their policies.