Satoru Iwata has big plans for Nintendo Company Limited in 2013. Iwata, who architectured the big restructure of 2002 where he dissolved the legendary Nintendo R&D1 and Nintendo R&D2 to strengthen Nintendo EAD and also create Nintendo SPD. Iwata has long admitted several deficits in the company he wanted to address, including expanding the network team of Nintendo, and initiating another huge rehaul of the software development division.

By December 2012, Iwata hopes to put place a new mysterious restructure of R&D which revolves around a new Kyoto R&D building hoping to exlusively house over 1200 developers. Previously, Nintendo has its R&D split between its main Central Building and its old Kyoto Research Institute Building. It is very unclear how the third R&D building will change the dynamic in Kyoto, but Iwata has mentioned wanting to support expansion as well as efficiency.

Additionally, Nintendo has continued to expand R&D operations in its Tokyo sector. Tokyo being the largest city of Japan by far, has created a window where several veteran developers from Square, SEGA, Koei, Epoch, and Konami can easily transition to join the EAD Tokyo development section.

But alongside all the expansion in Kyoto and Tokyo, comes the biggest news that Shigeru Miyamoto is expected to leave the EAD Division most likely by December 2012. Miyamoto has expressed concern that his presence is over shining all the new producers and directors creating content in the EAD Division (the largest of two gaming divisions at Nintendo). Miyamoto has vocalized his intent of stepping aside as General Manager of EAD to perhaps to create a third development sector where he would work with younger developers and focus on smaller resource, and faster to develop games.

2013 Expected Iwata Changes
+ Major shift in Kyoto development sources involving 3 R&D buildings
+ Shigeru Miyamoto stepping down as EAD General Manager
+ Takash Tezuka becoming new EAD General Manager
+ New Groups / New Producers announced for EAD Kyoto / SPD Kyoto
+ EAD Tokyo Expansion / Masahiro Sakurai Possibly Joining EAD Tokyo
+ New Division lead by Miyamoto with younger staff focused on smaller scale games
+ Miyamoto's Departure Inspiring New IPs for the EAD Kyoto Division

Source: Guardian UK. Nikkei. Wired.

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=495509

With the amount of printed money they're sitting on since SNES early days, they can pretty much pay guys to stay in a cave for fifty years inventing the videogames of after tomorrow !

Sounds interesting and very promising. Anyone has updates of their new building? 1200 developers sounds like Nintendo is making a huge bet, I guess the revive old ips rumour that was floating around the nethas something to do with this.
I dunno about Miyamoto leaving his position to focus on creating smaller games only, given that he pretty much oversees every big nintendo game nowdays.

It looks like Miyamoto is pushed aside.

He will leave the most important position for a Nintendo developper to get a third rate role.

It is sad.

New Division lead by Miyamoto with younger staff focused on smaller scale games - Hell Yeah!

Miyamoto's Departure Inspiring New IPs for the EAD Kyoto Division - Hell Yeah!

Will be really interesting to see what Miyamoto and his new minions can come up with! Working with smaller games should leave more room for experimentation.

Great news.

Really looking into the future.  I can't help but think this is the mirror opposite of what's happening in the Sony camp. 

http://www.businessinsider.com/at-sony-corporation-its-the-same-old-sony-2012-10

Basically, after a year by year comparison and a gap between profit, Sony continues to reassure shareholders the future will be a focus on their main values.  Yet, we see the same old blood pumping into the company and further worrying shareholders leading to low ratings for vote of confidence. 

On the Nintendo side, old presence is ready to step aside to let the younger guys move up.  They're willing fade into background and propel new talent. 

Kudos!

I think it's good if Nintendo starts letting other people have more influence. As much as I agree that Miyamoto is the best designer in the world, his Disney-esque approach to most everything limits the types of games Nintendo has made IMO.

Maybe Nintendo can now make a franchise like Resident Evil or something on their own if different creators are free to do their own thing.

I'm sure Miyamoto will still be involved and provide input where necessary anyway.

And I think it's good for Miyamoto to get back to just focusing on new games himself with younger designers. That should yield interesting results.

"+ New Division lead by Miyamoto with younger staff focused on smaller scale games"

I think that's potentially a very good move. Miyamoto is superb, don't get me wrong, but having him work with a new team of younger people on smaller-scale stuff just seems... smart.

Interested to see what new IP's they're coming up with in Kyoto too!

Very intrigued to see what happens here...

I think Zelda is now going to have major changes for the next installment too. Like voice acting for one. It's going to be more of Aonuma's thing.

Also excited by EAD Tokyo being expanded. I think that will be good.