Masahiro Sakurai

Director · Designer · Creator

Masahiro Sakurai is a video game designer and director who created the Kirby character and is closely associated with the Super Smash Bros. series.

Born August 03, 1970

Career

Sakurai joined HAL Laboratory in 1990.

Sakurai directed Kirby's Dream Land as his first game.

Sakurai left HAL Laboratory in 2003.

Sakurai founded Sora Ltd. in 2005.

Sakurai opened the Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games YouTube channel in 2022.

Interesting Facts

  • A 2025 report described Sora Ltd. as a two-person company consisting of Sakurai and his wife, using contracted staff for development rather than maintaining a large permanent team.

Credited Games