It’s a rare occurrence when someone’s name mirrors their profession so perfectly, but that’s certainly true of Doug Bowser, the head of Nintendo of America.
However, this particular “Bowser” will soon be leaving the “Mushroom Kingdom.” After more than a decade with the gaming giant, holding a number of key positions, the executive is set to retire.
Nintendo COO Stepping Down in Late 2025
Nintendo has announced that Doug Bowser, their President and Chief Operating Officer (COO), will retire effective December 31, 2025. Mr. Bowser’s service to the company spans more than ten years, during which he held several important leadership positions.
His successor will be Devon Pritchard, a seasoned professional with 19 years of experience in the video game industry and a long-time member of the Nintendo of America (NOA) leadership team.
Further strengthening the US branch, Satoru Shibata will become the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NOA. Mr. Shibata will add the CEO role to his current responsibilities as Managing Executive Officer, Corporate Director, and Board Member at Nintendo Co. Ltd (NCL).
The incoming COO, Devon Pritchard, will also be appointed to the NOA Board of Directors and become an Executive Officer at NCL.
During Bowser’s time at the helm, Nintendo significantly expanded its presence into entertainment beyond gaming, including theme parks and movies. The recent huge success of the Super Mario Bros. Movie proved that films are a viable and profitable venture for the company. This success will likely be followed up by the upcoming live-action Legend of Zelda movie.
Bowser is also recognized for his key role in the launch of the Nintendo Switch and what is expected to be its successor, the Switch 2. According to Nintendo, Bowser “led the launch of Nintendo Switch 2 in the Americas and played a crucial role in making the system the fastest-selling video game console during its initial launch period.”
Bowser shared a statement about his upcoming departure.
“One of the first video games I ever played was the arcade version of Donkey Kong,” Bowser said. “Since then, my family and I have remained passionate about all things Nintendo. Leading Nintendo of America has been the greatest honor of my career, and I am incredibly proud of what our team has achieved, both in terms of business results and the enjoyable experiences we’ve created for our customers.”
“Now, it’s time for a new generation to lead, and Devon’s accomplishments speak for themselves,” Bowser added. “She is an outstanding leader, and her promotion reflects her strong performance and strategic contributions to the company’s growth. I am fully confident that she will lead the company to even greater success.”
All of us at DualShockers wish Mr. Bowser the best as he embarks on the next phase of his career.
- Brand
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Nintendo
- Original Release Date
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June 5, 2025
- Original MSRP (USD)
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$449.99
- Operating System
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Proprietary
- Resolution
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1080p (handheld) / 4K (docked)
- Storage
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256GB internal / MicroSD