Masahiro Sakurai, the legendary game developer behind franchises like "Kirby" (星のカービィ) and "Super Smash Bros." (大乱闘スマッシュブラザーズ), recently sat down with ITMedia Business Online. He dished on his unique creative process, his take on the current state of the gaming industry, and his biggest worry for the future: the "unsustainable" nature of AAA development.
Creative Freedom vs. Management Headaches
Unlike many celebrated developers who found their own studios and lead massive teams, Sakurai opts for a different path: no employees, no direct company management. "When a creator becomes a company president, they get bogged down with operational tasks, which takes away from the most important thing: creation itself," he explained. His solution? A freelance, collaborative model, partnering with various game companies on projects to maintain creative freedom and flexibility.
"This approach allows me to focus purely on creation without getting exhausted by company management," Sakurai stated. 
It's not all sunshine and rainbows, though. Sakurai admitted that working with new teams means building trust and communication from scratch every single time, demanding high adaptability. He also stressed that transparent and synchronized information is crucial for project success.
"I make sure all team members — designers and programmers alike — have the same information at the same time. While it takes extra time and planning, it effectively prevents misunderstandings and deviations," Sakurai continued. "Don't just copy others' success stories. Find what you're truly good at and passionate about, and forge your own path."
AAA Games: Trapped in an "Unsustainable" Loop
Shifting gears to the pressures and challenges facing the AAA game industry, Sakurai believes the human resources and sheer scale of development required today have become so massive that the AAA production model is simply unsustainable. His proposed breakthrough? Generative AI.
"The only effective method I can think of right now is using generative AI to boost development efficiency. How well companies leverage these tools in the future will determine who survives," Sakurai stated.
As for indie games, while they offer immense creative freedom, they're also up against fierce market competition. "To stand out in the market, beyond hard work and polish, you need luck and a distinct identity," he remarked.