Image courtesy of Nintendo

Composer Yasuaki Iwata revealed on his own X account in early November 2024 that he had left Nintendo in July 2023 to pursue new challenges. The Japanese video game composer is available for contact via his account’s direct message and email. However, he has still yet to announce the new group he is now affiliated with.

Iwata first joined the list of Nintendo composers for the 2013 Wii U game Super Mario 3D World. He also later contributed to the soundtrack for the 2014 entry Mario Kart 8.

Yasuaki Iwata was arguably best known for his contributions as a composer to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which launched on Nintendo Switch and Wii U in 2017. Some of the tracks made by this composer were the area themes of Korok Forest, Rito Village, and Hateno Village, as well as the dungeon and Boss fight themes inside all four Divine Beasts and the Reunion themes with all four Champions.

After working on The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Iwata was also spotted in the composer lists for ARMS and Super Smash Bros Ultimate. The latest title Iwata was known to work on is the 2020 title Animal Crossing: New Horizons, where he notably made the game’s opening theme.

Yasuaki Iwata is still working as a game music composer even after he had left Nintendo in July 2023.

Kite is a Japanese translator and avid gamer from Indonesia, Southeast Asia who learned the language mostly by playing Japanese games from the PS1 era. He primarily translates news about Japanese games and anime straight from Japan. After initially starting with a focus on Dynasty Warriors communities from the mid-2000s, he eventually joined Siliconera in 2020. Other than Dynasty Warriors, Kite is also a big fan of Ace Combat and other games featuring mechs, especially Gundam.