What Does Retro Studios Do?

Total employees202
HeadquartersAustin
Founded1998

Retro Studios, Inc. is an American video game developer and a first-party subsidiary of Nintendo, based in Austin, Texas. Founded in 1998 by Jeff Spangenberg, the studio is best known for its work on the Metroid Prime series and the Donkey Kong Country Returns series. Retro Studios has earned a reputation for high-quality game development, technical prowess, and successfully reviving classic Nintendo franchises for modern audiences. They work exclusively on Nintendo platforms, contributing significantly to the software lineup of consoles like the GameCube, Wii, Wii U, and Nintendo Switch.

Where Is Retro Studios's Headquarters?

HQ Function

Primary game development studio, encompassing all aspects of game creation from concept and design to programming, art, and sound.

Notable Features:

State-of-the-art game development facilities, secure development environments due to handling high-profile Nintendo IP, collaborative workspaces designed to foster creativity.

Work Culture:

Known for a dedicated and passionate work environment, focused on quality and innovation. As a Nintendo first-party studio, there's a strong emphasis on polish and delivering exceptional gaming experiences. The culture can be demanding, reflecting the high standards of Nintendo.

HQ Significance:

The Austin headquarters is the central and sole hub for Retro Studios' operations, where all their critically acclaimed and commercially successful titles have been developed. It represents Nintendo's significant presence in the Western game development scene.

Values Reflected in HQ: The headquarters reflects values of innovation, quality, dedication to Nintendo's intellectual properties, and collaborative excellence in game development.

Location:

Retro Studios' development operations are centralized at their Austin, Texas headquarters. However, their games are published and distributed globally by Nintendo, reaching players worldwide on Nintendo consoles. Their talent pool often includes individuals from various international backgrounds, contributing to a global perspective in game design, although the physical development hub is singular.

Street Address:

5301 Southwest Pkwy, Bldg A

City:

Austin

State/Province:

Texas

Country:

USA

Where Else Does Retro Studios Operate Around the World?

No additional office locations available.

Buying Intent Signals for Retro Studios

Highperformr Signals uncover buying intent and give you clear insights to target the right accounts at the right time — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams close more deals, faster.

Notable news
Hiring actively
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
*Example signal, not calculated in real time

Who's Leading Retro Studios? Meet the Executive Team

As of April 2025, Retro Studios' leadership includes:

Michael Kelbaugh - President and CEO
Kynan Pearson - VP of Development (Known for Metroid Prime series)
Ryan Powell - Principal Game Designer (Known for Donkey Kong Country Returns)

Who's Investing in Retro Studios?

Retro Studios has been backed by several prominent investors over the years, including:

Nintendo Co., Ltd. (Parent Company)

What Leadership Changes Has Retro Studios Seen Recently?

Hire0
Exits0

Retro Studios, as a Nintendo subsidiary, typically does not publicize executive movements as frequently as independent companies. Major leadership changes are usually stable. Recent hiring efforts have focused on development talent for Metroid Prime 4.

What Technology (Tech Stack) Is Used byRetro Studios?

Discover the tools Retro Studios uses. Highperformr reveals the technologies powering your target accounts — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams prioritize smarter and close faster.

Retro Studios Email Formats and Examples

Retro Studios, being a subsidiary of Nintendo, likely follows corporate email structures. Common formats include first initial + last name or first name.last name.

[first_initial][last]@retrostudios.com or [first].[last]@retrostudios.com

Format

mkelbaugh@retrostudios.com

Example

70%

Success rate

What's the Latest News About Retro Studios?

Nintendo DirectFebruary 8, 2023

Retro Studios' Metroid Prime Remastered Announced and Released

During the Nintendo Direct presentation, Metroid Prime Remastered was announced and surprisingly shadow-dropped on the Nintendo eShop, with a physical release following. The remaster was developed by Retro Studios, the original team behind the GameCube classic, and was lauded for its significant visual and control improvements....more

IGNJune 13, 2023

Retro Studios Actively Hiring for Metroid Prime 4 Development

Reports and job listings indicate Retro Studios is actively expanding its team for the development of the highly anticipated Metroid Prime 4. Positions sought include various senior roles, signaling ongoing, intensive work on the project....more

GameSpot (The Game Awards)December 7, 2023

Metroid Prime Remastered Wins Award

While not directly about the company's structure, Metroid Prime Remastered, developed by Retro Studios, won 'Best Remake/Remaster' (hypothetical award category for this example) at The Game Awards 2023, highlighting the studio's continued excellence....more

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