Summary

• Nintendo excluded the individual developers from Retro Studios from the Donkey Kong Country Returns HD credits.
• Nintendo's history of condensing credits in remastered games has been criticized by developers in the past.

The upcoming release of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD on January 16, 2025, has sparked controversy as it confirms that the original developers at Retro Studios have been omitted from the remastered version's full credits. This remastered version of the 2010 Wii platformer is set to be available on the Nintendo Switch, offering enhanced graphics and additional content for both fans and newcomers.

The Nintendo Switch has become a leading platform for retro gaming, thanks to its portability and extensive library of classic titles. Nintendo has embraced the trend of remastering and remaking beloved classics, enhancing them with new content and improved visuals. Notable examples include the enhanced remake of Super Mario RPG and remasters of series like Advance Wars and Famicom Detective Club.

The Donkey Kong Country series is part of this remastering trend. However, recent reports from outlets with pre-release access, such as Nintendo Life, have confirmed that Nintendo has excluded the staff of Retro Studios, the developers of the original 2010 Wii game, from the full credits of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD. The credits screen only lists the staff of Forever Entertainment, the company responsible for porting and enhancing the game for the Switch, along with the 3DS version content. Instead of acknowledging the original developers individually, the credits simply state that the remastered 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 aligns 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, publicly criticized Nintendo for not including the full original credits in Metroid Prime Remastered on the Switch. Kirsch expressed feeling "let down" by the exclusion of names of former Retro Studios members. Other developers echoed his sentiments, labeling the practice of omitting original teams from remaster credits as "bad practice."

Crediting is a crucial issue in the game industry, as it significantly impacts the careers of game developers. Proper crediting in remastered titles serves as a gesture of appreciation, recognizing the hard work and dedication of the original teams. Nintendo has also faced criticism for not crediting translators and imposing restrictive non-disclosure agreements that prevent them from acknowledging their work on major series like The Legend of Zelda. As more developers and fans voice their concerns about improper crediting practices, there is growing pressure on publishers, including Nintendo, to revise their policies.