Wii U Iwata
An enormous Wii U gamepad or a tiny Satoru Iwata? Reuters

Thousands of Nintendo fans are petitioning the gaming company to produce a commemorative Satoru Iwata amiibo figure in tribute to the late president. The petition on Change.org has been signed by over 16,000 people at the time of writing.

The petition was started by someone from Maryland in the United States, who created it with a new, unnamed account. Below is what they wrote on the petition.

"Satoru Iwata's importance to modern gamers is more than words could ever describe. After helping to create some of Nintendo's biggest franchises such as Pokémon, Earthbound and Super Smash Bros, Mr. Iwata's legacy influences and inspires anyone who has ever picked up a Wiimote or 3DS stylus.

Mr. Iwata's business knowledge and work ethic as Nintendo's CEO will always be remembered. Being responsible for Nintendo's most profitable times and taking responsibility for Nintendo's financially turbulent times, Mr. Iwata has made several tough decisions based on a simple tenet: "Is this Nintendo?"

These are just a few reasons why we should honour Satoru Iwata with his very own amiibo. Even if the amiibo itself lacks in-game functionality, it serves as a small reminder of Iwata's legacy and accomplishments."

It would certainly be a fitting tribute to the great man, but it would take time for Nintendo to make and then distribute them in line with what would be a huge demand. They have already struggled to meet demand with their regular amiibo figures.

Satoru Iwata passed away on 11 July after a battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife Kayoko.

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