Next Level Gamesis a Canadian video game developer who is best known for its work with Nintendo. Established in 2002 by Eric Randall and Douglas Tronsgard, it would go on to create several console games, with some most acclaimed titles being for Nintendo. This includesSuper Mariospin-offs like theMario Strikersseriesto a fully-fledged reboot ofPunch-Out!!for the Wii console. Thanks to these titles, Next Level Games became a household name on Nintendo platforms.
In 2014, Next Level Games announced that it would be working exclusively with Nintendo. Since that statement, two games were released under its joint umbrella, those beingMetroid Prime: Federation Forceon the 3DS andLuigi’s Mansion 3on the Switch. WhileFederation Forcedidn’t see commercial or critical success,Luigi’s Mansion 3was received enthusiastically and solidified the relationship between Next Level Games and Nintendo. It also managed to win a number of awards at various shows. It wasn’t long untilNext Level Games was fully acquired by Nintendolast year, where then-CEO Douglas Tronsgard stepped down from his position.
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With Tronsgard stepping down from the position, he continued acting as president of the studio until it was fully transitioned and acquired by Nintendo. Recent changes to Tronsgard’s LinkedIn page show that onceNext Level Games was successfully sold to Nintendo, he would be retiring. This post went up recently, officially announcing his departure from the gaming industry after over 20 years.
Tronsgard thanked the many employees atNext Level Gameswho he had worked with during his tenure as its CEO and President, and was happy that his journey as an executive in the industry ended with a fulfilling retirement. He also gave very special thanks to Nintendo for believing in Next Level Games and that it was an honor to be a part of the legacy of the company and the publisher.
Tronsgard announced that his retirement will begin by traveling with his wife, and is looking forward to his future. Meanwhile, Next Level Games is continuing its momentum with Nintendo, as the developer recently announced a new entry in theMario Strikersseries,Mario Strikers: Battle League. This is the third entry in the beloved hyper-violent soccer spin-off afterMario Strikers Chargedin 2007 for the Wii.Next Level Gamesis promising plenty of exciting gameplay elements, sidekicks, modes, and even online play for this game as well.
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