Kong's Country Returns HD Credit Snubs Original Devs

Summary

• Donkey Kong Country Returns HD's credits exclude Retro Studios' original development team.
• This follows a pattern of credit omissions in Nintendo's remastered games, drawing criticism from developers.

The upcoming release of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD on January 16, 2025, for Nintendo Switch has revealed the omission of Retro Studios, the original developers of the 2010 Wii version, from the game's credits. The remaster, handled by Forever Entertainment, only credits their team and acknowledges the original developers with a generic statement. This aligns with the Nintendo Switch's position as a popular retro gaming platform, fueled by its portability and Nintendo's remasters of classic titles like Super Mario RPG and Advance Wars.

This omission continues a trend. Nintendo Life reported that the credits solely list Forever Entertainment, responsible for the port and enhancements, including content from the 3DS version. The game only includes a brief mention crediting the "original development staff."

Nintendo's Crediting Practices Under Scrutiny

This practice mirrors Nintendo's handling of other Switch re-releases. In 2023, Zoid Kirsch, a former Retro Studios programmer, publicly criticized Nintendo for excluding the original Metroid Prime team from the Metroid Prime Remastered credits. He expressed disappointment, a sentiment echoed by other developers who highlighted the negative precedent of omitting original teams from remaster credits.

The significance of proper crediting in the game industry is undeniable. Credits are crucial for developers' career progression and serve as a recognition of the dedication and years of work invested in beloved games. Beyond this, Nintendo has also faced accusations of insufficient crediting for translators, often bound by restrictive NDAs preventing them from acknowledging their work on franchises like The Legend of Zelda. Growing public awareness and criticism of inadequate crediting practices may force publishers, including Nintendo, to reconsider their approach.