"Donkey Kong HD Omits Original Developers in Credits"

Summary

• Nintendo has excluded the individual developers from Retro Studios in the credits for Donkey Kong Country Returns HD.
• This practice aligns with Nintendo's history of condensing credits in remastered games, which has drawn criticism from developers.

The upcoming release of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, scheduled for January 16, 2025, brings a remastered version of the beloved 2010 Wii platformer to the Nintendo Switch. This remaster enhances the original game with new content and graphical improvements, catering to both fans and new players.

The Nintendo Switch has become a leading platform for retro gaming, thanks to its portability and an extensive catalog of classic titles. Nintendo has capitalized on this trend by remastering and remaking several of its iconic games, such as Super Mario RPG, the Advance Wars series, and the Famicom Detective Club titles, revitalizing them for modern audiences.

However, the excitement surrounding Donkey Kong Country Returns HD has been tempered by the revelation that Nintendo has omitted the original developers at Retro Studios from the remastered version's full credits. According to Nintendo Life, the credits screen for Donkey Kong Country Returns HD only lists the staff from Forever Entertainment, the developer responsible for porting and enhancing the game for the Switch, including content from the 3DS version. Instead of acknowledging the individual developers from Retro Studios, the credits merely state that the game is "Based on the work of the original development staff."

Nintendo Omits Retro Studios From Donkey Kong Country Returns HD Credits

This decision to condense the credits is consistent with Nintendo's approach to other Switch-based re-releases. In 2023, Zoid Kirsch, a former programmer and senior gameplay engineer at Retro Studios for the first two Metroid Prime games, criticized Nintendo for not including the full original credits in Metroid Prime Remastered. Kirsch expressed disappointment, feeling "let down" by Nintendo's choice to exclude the names of former Retro Studios members who contributed to the original game. Other developers have echoed this sentiment, labeling the practice of excluding original teams from remastered game credits as "bad practice."

The issue of crediting is a significant concern in the gaming industry, as credits play a crucial role in the career development of game developers. Proper crediting in remastered titles is not only a professional necessity but also a gesture of appreciation for the original teams' hard work. Additionally, Nintendo has faced accusations of not crediting translators or imposing restrictive non-disclosure agreements on them, preventing them from acknowledging their work on major series like The Legend of Zelda. As more developers and fans voice their concerns over improper crediting practices, there is growing pressure on publishers, including Nintendo, to adopt more transparent and fair crediting policies.