Regulation, What Is It Good For?
With all that background, it’s going to come as no shock that Devon Pritchard is aware of her authorized onions. She grew to become a Physician of Regulation on the Gonzaga College College of Regulation in 2001, and earlier than that, obtained a Bachelor’s diploma in Organic Sciences from Kansas State College.
Whereas at Kansas State, she performed on the college volleyball staff… sooo, revival of the canned Tremendous Mario Spikers, then? We doubt it.
A Grip On Gaming?
It appears considerably counterintuitive, however being essentially the most die-hard capital-G Gamer is not essentially a prerequisite to being the Nintendo of America President.
In fact, all of us keep in mind Reggie being very a lot hands-on on this division, repeatedly sharing what he was taking part in and for a way lengthy — what can we are saying? He needed to get again to taking part in Animal Crossing: New Leaf on his Nintendo 3DS — however do you ever recall Bowser sharing his playtime?
We do not know for positive what Pritchard’s vidyagame chops are like simply but, however Equipment & Krysta’s newest video shed some mild on her gaming habits. The previous-NOA workers labored carefully with the soon-to-be President throughout their tenure on the firm, and whereas they agreed that she’s removed from a hardcore gamer, they have been fast to level out that she is aware of her Nintendo.
“She positively loves Nintendo,” Krysta acknowledged. “Like all of us, she has these childhood recollections of connecting with Nintendo ultimately, form or kind. She’s most likely not taking part in video games each day for a lot of hours, she’s not a ‘core gamer’, as we wish to name it, however she positively understands the trade, and she or he understands how Nintendo matches into [it].”
Equipment was fast to additionally level out that Pritchard has younger youngsters, and really a lot views Nintendo’s picture by way of them. “I had some very insightful conversations together with her concerning the trade, about video games, and about Nintendo’s video games. So, I feel she’s actually on it.”
Pik Me A Winner
Let’s briefly handle the Bulborb within the room: sure, there’s a image of Devon Pritchard holding a Bulborb plushie, and sure, it was previously her show image on LinkedIn.
New NoA president is a Pikmin fan. We’re in good fingers.
— Harrison Milfeld (@hmilfeld.bsky.social) 2025-09-25T21:56:11.636Z
Does that imply we will get Pikmin 5 underneath her management? Perhaps. However a NOA president being a fan of a sequence does not actually have any sway over what the corporate releases, and, based on Krysta Yang, “she’s probably not a Pikmin fan”.
However hey, we are able to dream…
Bye To Bowser
So, Pritchard feels like a promising follow-up, however we could not rejoice the incoming expertise with out additionally sending a goodbye to Mr. Bowser himself — he is been the NOA president for the previous six years, in spite of everything.
After we look again on the Bowser period, it is inconceivable to not examine him to Reggie. Let’s admit it, Bowser wasn’t the larger-than-life quote machine that his predecessor was, however actually, who’s?
Bowser’s tenure can usually be seemed again on as steadily guiding H.M.S. Nintendo of America by way of calm waters; for that, he did job. Nintendo did not want one other recognisable Reggie-like to drum up the hype at in any other case quiet Directs as a result of, since Bowser’s introduction in 2019, the output has been something however quiet.
The Swap 2 launched to record-breaking gross sales numbers, Nintendo continues to earn extra money than ever earlier than, and Bowser has, from an outdoor perspective at the least, maintained cool, calm, and picked up on the head of all of it.
It mightn’t have been the back-to-back tough-call position of earlier NOA presidents, however remaining regular throughout a number of the strangest occasions for the broader trade is nothing to scoff at — even in case you do assume he ought to have pulled rank on Swap 2 Welcome Tour à la Reggie and Wii Sports activities to make the rattling factor a pack in…
As for what the incoming president needed to say about her predecessor, Pritchard shared the next message on her LinkedIn:
Congratulations on an unbelievable profession, Doug! You’ve been a unbelievable chief and it’s an honor to construct on the muse you’ve established right here at Nintendo. On behalf of the whole Nintendo of America staff, thanks for all the pieces. Wishing you a well-deserved and completely happy retirement!
Setting A President For The Future
So, the place does this go away us for the longer term? Truthfully, we would be shocked if it have been something apart from extra of the identical.
The times of Nintendo requiring a Reggie determine on the helm are lengthy behind us. Nintendo shouldn’t be large on its personalities, and if the Bowser period has taught us something, it is that the NOA president will primarily keep out of the general public eye whereas the going’s good.
From an outdoor perspective, we are able to solely assume that Pritchard will observe the identical strategy: usually staying within the background earlier than often popping up at a North American occasion or showcase. That is simply the best way Nintendo is as of late.
However who is aware of, maybe she’s being measured up for a Jim Henson puppet duplicate as we converse.
So, what do you make of Devon Pritchard? Do you reckon she’ll be match for Bowser’s boots? Tell us within the feedback.
