Was Kirby always Nintendo?

Was Kirby Always a Nintendo Franchise? A Deep Dive

The character of Kirby has been entertaining gamers for over three decades, and one might expect that the franchise has been under the banner of the legendary video game giant, Nintendo, since its inception. However, a closer examination reveals a more complex relationship between Kirby and Nintendo’s ownership. In this article, we will delve into the history of Kirby to answer the question: was Kirby always a Nintendo franchise?

Kirby’s Humble Beginnings: A Pre-Nintendo Timeline

Kirby was initially created by the renowned designer, Masahiro Sakurai, in 1989. Sakurai designed the character and developed his first game, Bubble Bobble. By 1991, Kirby’s Dream Land was born, courtesy of HAL Laboratory, now a renowned developer of action games. Kirby’s introduction to the world of 16-bit consoles came by way of the Game Gear, where his charm endeared him to players as the titular protagonist.

Separation from Nintendo (Until the Turn of the Millenium)

When Kirby’s Adventure (1993) failed to capture the console’s market, Kirby ceased to be associated with Donkey Kong, marking a separation from his early ties with Nintendo’s crown jewel, Mario’s debut in 1984. For almost a decade, Kirby enjoyed success mainly outside the realm of traditional Nintendo games. In between the early Game Gear iteration and his relaunch (under HAL Laboratory) within Nintendo, Kirby‘s reputation steadily improved through sequels developed for handhelds, solidifying his individual brand image.

A Return to Nintendo’s Embrace in the 2000s

Fast forward to Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land (1999) for the WonderSwan, followed shortly by Kirby: Squeak of Crystal Shards for the GBA Kirby: Power of Friends, signaling Kirby’s permanent residence under Nintendo’s label, cemented in November 2003, courtesy of the game **Harvest Moon 64*** (the Nintendo Switch Online subscription).