Masahiro Sakurai: The Struggles of Game Development in Teams of Hundreds

The creator of  Super Smash Bros. and Kirby, Masahiro Sakurai, has admitted that developing large games with extensive teams often brings not just experience but also disappointment. According to him, in such environments, it’s increasingly difficult for developers to take pride in their contributions.

Sakurai shared this insight during an interview with the Japanese publication 47NEWS. He highlighted that the joy of work is closely linked to the tangible outcomes of one’s efforts, a feeling that can sometimes be lacking in larger groups.

As an illustration, he pointed to pixel art: when an artist works alone, they complete the piece in its entirety. In a team setting, the process often devolves into endless discussions about what the outcome should be.

In Sakurai’s view, individual contributions can easily get lost in massive projects. He emphasizes that not all efforts are equally visible in the final game, and without a sense of completion and personal achievement, motivation can quickly wane. This issue becomes more pronounced as teams grow larger.

«In big projects, it becomes increasingly challenging. The number of employees can soon reach into the hundreds,» Sakurai notes. He adds that the satisfaction derived from solo creative work is vastly different from that of collaborating in a group, and the role of a specialist shifts significantly over time.

Sakurai’s career serves as a testament to his observations. In the credits of  Kirby’s Dream Land, his debut game from the early ’90s, only 14 individuals are listed. In contrast, the credits for his most recent project,  Kirby Air Riders, feature an astounding 908 names. In such a massive production machine, it’s easy to feel like just an anonymous cog.

Sakurai is not alone in this perspective. Previously, former creative director of Assassin’s Creed, Alexandre Amancio, also expressed that AAA studios wrongly attempt to solve issues by expanding their workforce, believing instead that the future lies with more streamlined teams.