Kensuke Tanabe
Japanese video game developer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kensuke Tanabe (田邊 賢輔, Tanabe Kensuke; born January 26, 1963)[2] is a Japanese former video game producer and designer who has worked for Nintendo since 1986.
Kensuke Tanabe | |
|---|---|
田邊 賢輔 | |
Tanabe at E3 2013 | |
| Born | January 26, 1963 Ikeda, Osaka, Japan[1] |
| Alma mater | Osaka University of Arts |
| Occupations | Video game producer, designer |
| Employer | Nintendo (1986–present) |
| Notable work | Super Mario The Legend of Zelda Metroid Prime Chibi-Robo! |
| Title | Manager at Nintendo SPD Production Group No. 3 (2004–2015) Manager at Nintendo EPD Production Group No. 6 (2015–2019) Senior Officer at Nintendo EPD (2019–present) |
After he had graduated from the Visual Concept Planning Department of Osaka University of Arts, he decided to enter the video game industry, and joined Nintendo in April 1986.[1][3]
At first, Tanabe was part of the Entertainment Analysis and Development division.[4] He directed the platform games Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic and Super Mario Bros. 2, and worked on the scripts for the action-adventures The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening.[3][4] In 2003, Tanabe moved to the Software Planning and Development division, where he became the manager of Production Group No. 3.[1][4] Since then, he has become a producer, and has managed and overseen the development of externally developed first party Nintendo video games, such as Metroid Prime, Donkey Kong Country, Paper Mario, Chibi-Robo and other series.[3]
In January 2026, Tanabe announced that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond was the last Nintendo game he would be working on, with a concurrent announcement confirming fellow producer Risa Tabata to be his successor.[5]