As well as confirming yesterday that Tatsumi Kimishima is its new president, Nintendo also detailed some organisational changes which will impact the day-to-day running of some of its famous internal teams.

The big news is that EAD (Entertainment Analysis & Development Division) and SPD (Software Planning & Development Division) - two of the company's most talented development groups - will cease to exist, merging into one single entity known as the Entertainment Planning & Development Division (we're assuming it will become known as EPD).

Establishment of the Entertainment Planning & Development Division



We will integrate personnel who are involved in the development of software for Nintendo platforms and smart devices in addition to work associated with effective utilization of character IP, and in order to create a structure that operates efficiently and rapidly, the Entertainment Analysis & Development Division and the Software Planning & Development Division will be consolidated into the newly established Entertainment Planning & Development Division.

Shigeru Miyamoto - formerly the General Manager of EAD - has been given the role of "Creative Fellow". He won't be taking control of the new group - that honour has fallen to Shinya Takahashi, the man who previously headed up SPD. Takahashi is seen by some as Miyamoto's successor.

Elsewhere, EAD Tokyo's Yoshiaki Koizumi is now a deputy general manager at EPD, a title he shared with Animal Crossing director Katsuya Eguchi, who was formerly deputy manager at EAD.

As well as this massive structural change, two other divisions have been formed as part of the reshuffle. They are the Platform Technology Development Division and Business Development Division:

Establishment of the Platform Technology Development Division



We will integrate personnel responsible for the technology development essential for Nintendo's hardware formation such as hardware, OS, development environment and network, and in order to create a structure in which we can more broadly and efficiently conduct technology development necessary for new products and services, the Integrated Research & Development Division and the System Development Division will be consolidated into the newly established Platform Technology Development Division.

Establishment of the Business Development Division



We will newly establish the Business Development Division, a division with the aim of refining the business model for the dedicated video game system business, and creating and making profitable the smart device business and the new business that utilizes character IP.

While Kimishima's appointment was the big news yesterday, the changes detailed above could well have a more pronounced impact on how Nintendo operates in the future. Combining EAD and SPD should result in a leaner, better company - one which can share and pool its vast experience and talent to create even better games.

Whatever is happening behind the scenes, it's clearly a time of dramatic change for the Kyoto veteran.