Donkey Returns HD Rolls Credits Without Developers

Summary

• Donkey Kong Country Returns HD's credits exclude Retro Studios' original development team.
• This follows a pattern of Nintendo condensing credits in remastered games, a practice previously criticized by developers.

The upcoming release of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD on January 16, 2025, for Nintendo Switch has confirmed the omission of Retro Studios' original development team from the game's credits. This remastered version of the 2010 Wii title features only credits for Forever Entertainment, responsible for the port and enhancements, including content from the 3DS version. Retro Studios' contribution is acknowledged only with a brief statement indicating the game is "Based on the work of the original development staff."

The Nintendo Switch, a popular platform for retro gaming, has seen numerous remasters and remakes from Nintendo itself. Recent examples include Super Mario RPG, Advance Wars remasters, and even the Famicom Detective Club titles. The Donkey Kong Country series is another example, but this remaster highlights a contentious issue.

Nintendo's Crediting Practices Under Scrutiny

This credit omission mirrors Nintendo's handling of other Switch re-releases. In 2023, Zoid Kirsch, a former Retro Studios programmer, publicly criticized Nintendo for excluding original developers from the Metroid Prime Remastered credits, expressing disappointment at the omission of colleagues no longer with the studio. Other developers echoed his concerns, labeling the practice as "bad practice."

Proper crediting is crucial for game developers' careers and serves as recognition for their contributions to successful titles. Beyond this, Nintendo has also faced accusations of insufficiently crediting translators or imposing restrictive NDAs preventing them from acknowledging their work on franchises like The Legend of Zelda. Growing public awareness and criticism of these practices may eventually pressure publishers, including Nintendo, to adopt more inclusive crediting policies.