https://www.nintendo-stars.com/

Representative Director and President: Nobuto Kuroki

Nintendo Development Studios Sapporo
Nintendo Software Development Sapporo

ND Cube has been rebranded to Nintendo Cube. This isn't a big deal compared to…

https://www.cbr.com/nintendo-ban-inappropriate-game-use/
Nintendo now claims that pre-release game reviews are against their strict rules and can result in legal action.

Thoughts?

• Keita Noto
  • Technical Director for Studio 2, Group 2, Production 3
  • Known recent works: Go Vacation [2011 - Programmer], Smash Bros. for 3DS/Wii U [2014 - Programmer], Smash Bros. Ultimate [2018 - Programmer]
  • "I currently work as a technical director and I oversee other engineers on several projects."
• Munehiro Koyanagi
  • Director for Studio 2, Production 1
  • Known recent works: Go Vacation [2011 - Planner], Touch My Katamari [2012 - Game Designer], Smash Bros. Ultimate [2018 - Planner]
  • "I’ve been involved in games that span a variety of genres, but I’ve been working on a completely new game recently."
• Shunsuke Otsuka
  • Art Director for Studio 2, Group 2, Production 5, Art Section
  • Known recent works: Go Vacation [2011 - Character Design] Mario Kart 8 [2014 - Character Design Lead], Mario Kart 8 Deluxe [2017 - Character Design Lead], ARMS [2017 - Character Art Lead], Scarlet Nexus [2021 - 2D Artist]
  • Scarlet Nexus is a Group 3 project. Reasonable to assume this Studio structure is fluid like EPD's Production Groups? Or, perhaps, he was on Tour and did artwork for Scarlet Nexus on the side?

Worth waiting for further interviews to determine with more certainty, but I wonder if Studio S does only encompass a single Production (W). Stands out compared to Studio 2 and 3 having numbered Productions. Based on the site URL the S does appear to stand for Special, and it is listed last (and seperately from Studio 2) on the overall list of studios. Thanks to the job listings we do know with certainty that Studio S are working on a Nintendo project, so it's worth speculating about.

• Yukihiro Taniguchi
  • Background Lead for Studio 2 Production 1 and Studio S Production W.
  • Listed prior works: Ridge Racer Series, Go Vacation, Smash 4, Smash Ultimate.
• Megumi Kagisaki
  • Lead Artist for Studio S Production W.
  • Listed prior works: Go Vacation, Soulcailbur VI, Touch My Katamari, Smash 4, Smash Ultimate, Mario Kart Tour.
• Chiho Kamiyama
  • Background Model Artist for Studio S Production W.
  • Listed prior works: Tekken series, Soulcalibur series, Go Vacation, Smash 4, Smash Ultimate.
• Toshikatsu Terashima
  • Background Model Artist / Supervisor for Studio 2 Production 6
  • Listed prior works: Ridge Racer series, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, ARMS, Mario Kart Tour.

[EDIT: Thank you for the below correction on Kamiyama]

"BANDAI NAMCO Studio 2/S Studio is a studio that specializes in contracted development projects within the company."

Doesn't mention Nintendo specifically, but literally all of the games listed are Nintendo-published.

Will edit with links when I’m able to.

October 2021 - 3D Action Game Designer

January 2022 (approx.) - 3D Action Game Background Artist

January 2022 (approx.) - 3D Action Game / 3D Background HD Remaster (has since been removed)

• HD remastering of 3D backgrounds.
• HD remastering of deformed 3D backgrounds.

Definitely doesn’t sound like a remake at least. If it’s Zelda-related, then it’s likely a new title. Though I’ve personally been expecting a new IP.

Will edit with links when I’m able to.

January 2021 - Programmer, UI Designer, Effect Designer

• The taste of the game is "medieval" and "stylish".
• The expression is not photo-realistic, but rather "designed" with realistic elements.
• Those who have experience in UI production with 3D games.
• Game development using Unity.

October 2021 - Unity Engineer

• As a Unity engineer, you are mainly responsible for the UI in the game.

November 2021 - Level Designer

• Requirements - Level design for several action games.

April 2022 - Battle Planner

• Please work through the entire process of battles with boss enemies in action games, starting with design, implementation, and adjustment.

October 2022 - Character Control Engineer, Cinematic Artist, 3DCG Map Designer

July 2023 Level Planner, 3DCG Motion Designer, 2D Art Designer

• Boss Dragon Motion Creation.

Amano was a planning supervisor for New Horizons, so he possibly could still be a part of EPD 5 on a new project. I had a theory a while back that the group will have different producers along with Nogami, as Aya Kyogoku had no involvement in Splatoon 3.

Coincidentally, Toshiharu Izuno hasn't been credited as producer since 2018 (not even Mario Golf: Super Rush), but received a Special Thanks in both New Horizons and Splatoon 3.

Nintendo has already confirmed that Martinet is not involved in Super Mario Bros. Wonder, so the characters have more than likely been recast already. I guess we'll have to wait to see who appears credited.

This leaves the future of the characters in question. Will they reuse the voices? Or choose a new actor? Maybe AI? Martinet is irreplaceable in my opinion.

Thoughts?