Summary
- Donkey Kong Country Returns HD's credits exclude Retro Studios' original development team.
- Nintendo's practice of condensed credits in remastered games has faced past developer criticism.
The upcoming release of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD on January 16, 2025, for Nintendo Switch confirms the omission of Retro Studios' original development team from the credits. This remastered version of the 2010 Wii title features only Forever Entertainment's staff in the credits, the team responsible for the port and enhancements, including the integration of 3DS content. Retro Studios' contribution is acknowledged solely with a statement indicating the game is "Based on the work of the original development staff." This omission is noteworthy given the Switch's popularity as a retro gaming platform and Nintendo's active involvement in remastering classic titles. Recent examples include the Super Mario RPG remake and remasters of Advance Wars and the Famicom Detective Club games. The Donkey Kong Country series is part of this trend.
Nintendo's Omission of 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, publicly criticized Nintendo for excluding original Metroid Prime Remastered credits. He expressed disappointment, a sentiment echoed by other developers who labeled the omission of original teams from remaster credits as "bad practice."
Proper crediting is crucial in the game industry, impacting developer career progression. Crediting original teams in remasters demonstrates appreciation for their years of work on beloved titles. Nintendo has also faced accusations of insufficient credit for translators, sometimes employing restrictive NDAs preventing them from acknowledging their work on franchises like The Legend of Zelda. Growing public outcry regarding inadequate crediting practices may necessitate a shift in publisher policies, including Nintendo's.
