이와타 사토루
Programmer who became president of Nintendo; led the DS and Wii era
87 records in all
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7 basic records of 48
Episodes are real events from public sources, summarised by us.
Nintendo was set to announce a CD-ROM partnership with Sony at CES, but instead announced a deal with Sony's rival, Philips, the very next day. This public betrayal motivated Sony to enter the gaming market independently with the PlayStation.
LessonTreating partners with disrespect can create a competitor that eventually destroys your market lead.
Nintendo launched a recurring subscription service in 2018 that grew to nearly 40 million subscribers. This transformed their relationship with customers from occasional buyers to a steady, recurring revenue stream.
LessonConverting a hardware install base into a recurring software subscription creates a much more stable business model.
After Hiroshi Yamauchi retired, Iwata became the fourth president of Nintendo. He was the first person to hold the position who was not related to the founding Yamauchi family.
LessonMerit and proven results can break long-standing family succession traditions in established corporations.
Iwata consolidated various departments to break down silos and promote collaboration across the company. He also launched a project where employees not involved in development could submit game ideas to expand the user base.
LessonBreaking down departmental silos is essential for fostering innovation and collaborative work.
Nintendo released the DS Lite and DSi only 18 months apart, breaking the traditional 5-year console cycle. Iwata wanted to prevent consumers from waiting for price drops and to reward early adopters.
LessonRapid iteration can maintain market momentum and discourage customers from delaying purchases.
The Nintendo 3DS suffered from weak sales at launch, causing the company's stock to drop significantly. Iwata responded by cutting the price from $250 to $170 just months after release.
LessonWhen a product launch fails to meet market expectations, a swift and decisive pricing adjustment may be necessary.
Iwata bypassed traditional media channels to announce products directly to fans through quirky and humorous videos. He even participated in mock battles and memes to entertain the audience.
LessonDirect-to-consumer communication allows a leader to set the tone of the brand and build a unique personality that competitors cannot easily mimic.
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See membershipManagement and leadership
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