Smash Bros. Director Says Game Designers Award Will End After 16 Years as He Warns Games Industry Could “Die a Slow Death” Without Originality

Masahiro Sakurai, the director behind Super Smash Bros. and Kirby, has confirmed that the Game Designers Award at the Japan Game Awards will be discontinued after 16 years. Sakurai explained that the decision came after he was unable to find a suitable successor to take over his responsibilities as chairman of the award’s jury. The category was established in 2010 to recognize games that stand out through creativity and originality. Sakurai has played a central role in the award since…