Our Princess is in Another Castle: Doug Bowser is Retiring from Nintendo

Well, it finally happened. After years of service, Bowser is leaving the castle. No, not that one. The other one.

Doug Bowser, the president of Nintendo of America and a man who has endured an endless stream of jokes about his iconic name, announced today that he plans to retire. His departure will be effective December 31, 2025, marking the end of a surprisingly impactful era for the company.

Bowser took the reins from another industry legend, Reggie Fils-Aimé, back in mid-2019. Since then, he’s overseen some of Nintendo’s most dominant years, including the continued runaway success of the Switch, the launch of the Switch 2 this past spring, and the absolute box office domination of the Super Mario Bros. Movie.

A Switch-ingly Successful Era

In a statement, Bowser reflected on a lifelong passion for the company. "Nintendo has been an integral part of my life for 44 years, starting with Donkey Kong Arcade as a kid in college," he said. "It has been an honor to contribute to this incredible company... I extend my best wishes to Devon Pritchard as she leads Nintendo of America forward". Neither Bowser nor Nintendo gave a specific reason for his departure.

A New Player Enters the Game

Stepping into Bowser's massive shoes is Devon Pritchard, a long-time veteran of the company who will become the new President of Nintendo of America. Pritchard is a long-time executive who has worked in marketing and publisher relations and is currently the Executive Vice President of Revenue, Marketing, and Consumer Experience.

"I feel honored and am very happy to take on this new role," Pritchard stated. "Doug was a fantastic mentor, and I look forward to building on the incredible foundation that he helped build."

The Boardroom Shuffle

This isn't the only change coming to the kingdom. Satoru Shibata will also be joining Nintendo of North America as CEO, a new top position, while still maintaining his executive roles at Nintendo's headquarters in Japan. Pritchard, in her new role as president, will also join the Nintendo of America Board of Directors.

So, the keys to the castle are being passed on. Bowser had a hell of a run, steering the ship through some of Nintendo's most successful years. Here's hoping Pritchard is ready for the throne. No pressure.