Tsunku, the longtime producer and composer behind Nintendo’s Rhythm Heaven series, has revealed that he turned down multiple opportunities to create similar rhythm games for other companies because he believed Nintendo would eventually revive the franchise.
The musician shared the details in a recent blog post reflecting on the long journey behind Rhythm Heaven Groove, which launched on July 2 for Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 after an almost 11-year gap between mainline entries.
The candid message offers new insight into Tsunku’s loyalty to Nintendo and the challenges he faced while waiting for the series to return. It also sheds light on the difficult period surrounding the development of Rhythm Heaven Megamix, his battle with cancer, and how Nintendo’s commitment to the franchise kept him motivated through personal hardship.
Tsunku says loyalty to Nintendo came before other game offers
In his blog post, Tsunku explained that he was never certain the series would receive another sequel. At one point, he admitted he thought rhythm games might simply be too difficult to popularize, writing that
“popularizing rhythm was much harder than I imagined after all.”
Despite those doubts, he continued receiving messages from fans worldwide requesting a new Rhythm Heaven game. As players who grew up with the Nintendo DS and Wii entries entered the gaming industry, some even approached him with offers to create similar rhythm titles elsewhere.
However, Tsunku said he consistently declined those proposals because he remained convinced Nintendo would eventually continue the series.
“I always believed I would get the opportunity to work with Nintendo on the next Rhythm Heaven, so I politely declined such offers. I’d say it’s my way of showing indebtedness to Nintendo for all the support I’ve received throughout the years.”
Rhythm Heaven Groove marks the franchise’s long-awaited return
Tsunku also reflected on one of the most difficult periods of his life. In 2014, while working on Rhythm Heaven Megamix, he was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer and later underwent surgery that removed his vocal cords. According to the producer, Nintendo’s unwavering commitment to finishing the game gave him hope during his treatment.
“The fact that Nintendo never halted development and kept working on the game ahead of its release became one of my beacons of hope. It’s what helped me gain the courage to tell myself, ‘You can do this!'”
He also paid tribute to former Nintendo president Satoru Iwata after learning they had been battling serious illnesses around the same time.
Looking back on the development of Rhythm Heaven Groove, Tsunku noted that the game was completed during the COVID-19 pandemic and global economic uncertainty. He added that while the original creators are now
“all uncles,”
the project also benefited from younger Nintendo developers who grew up playing the series as children, highlighting how the franchise has connected multiple generations of players.
