On a lost and lonely moon, Samus engages her Scan Visor to translate the characters inscribed on an alien monolith…
Founded in 1998, Retro Studios has gained a legacy of producing award-winning titles with its partner and parent, Nintendo. It all started with bringing the classic Metroid universe into the 3D era with Metroid Prime on the GameCube in 2002. Not content with only adding a first-person perspective, we also paid homage to Metroid’s gameplay roots in stylish and innovative ways, garnering universal acclaim. Prime was followed by two sequels that continued its intriguing saga – Metroid Prime 2: Echoes on the GameCube in 2004, and the motion-controlled Metroid Prime 3: Corruption on the Wii in 2007. In 2009, we updated the graphics and controls for all three Prime titles and released them for the Wii in one final love song called Metroid Prime: Trilogy.
Alone in his shop on a lazy island afternoon, Cranky cracks a rare smile as he listens to an old phonograph record he found washed up on the beach long ago…
Turning from Metroid’s interstellar mysteries, we found ourselves romping through a tropical wonderland in 2010’s Donkey Kong Country Returns for the Wii. Many of us relived our videogame childhoods as we created an all-new platforming adventure for DK and Diddy, and we wanted each moment in every level to be a treat for the big guy and his little buddy. We topped it all with lush graphics, audio and effects, and audiences agreed that Returns was a beloved hit
Mario swerves, his kart nearly missing the betusked Snowmad that had charged out at him from the stands. In his rear-view, Mario sees the beast yelling at him in an unknown language…
In 2011, Retro accepted a side mission, collaborating with Nintendo EAD to bring Mario Kart 7 to the 3DS. We were honored to include characters and ideas from Returns among our contributions to this latest installment of the classic racer. Meanwhile, we were engineering the 2014 return of Returns on the WiiU with Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, an island-hopping sequel co-starring the cantankerous Cranky and delightful Dixie. Packed with imaginative environments and an incomparable score, Tropical Freeze further demonstrated Retro’s pride in crafting experiences that uphold Nintendo’s standard of quality.
Veteran developers and talented recruits alike had yet again been lured into Retro’s break room by the smell of freshly-delivered barbecue. Waiting in line to heap brisket on their plates, it wasn’t long before everyone was excitedly sharing their latest ideas and stories…
Our studio is located in beautiful Austin, Texas. With rolling hills to the north, rivers threading through town, abundant wildlife, and a laid-back, cosmopolitan culture, Austin is a dynamic and truly wonderful place to live. With plentiful outdoor activities and a vibrant, diverse music scene, there’s something for everyone in Austin.
