Tragic Loss of Tomonobu Itagaki
Renowned Japanese video game creator Tomonobu Itagaki has passed away at the age of 58. He is famously recognized for developing the Dead or Alive series and reviving the Ninja Gaiden franchise in 2004.
Final Message
Before his death, Itagaki instructed a close friend to share a ‘final words’ message on his Facebook page. This post was published mere hours before his passing was confirmed.
“The light of my life is finally fading. The fact that this message has been posted means that the time has finally come. I am no longer in this world. (I am entrusting this final post to someone important to me.) My life has been a series of battles. I kept winning. I have caused a lot of trouble, too. I am proud to say that I followed my beliefs and fought to the end. I have no regrets. However, I am filled with regret that I was unable to deliver a new work to all my fans. I am sorry. That’s how it is. So it goes.” – Itagaki Tomonobu
Tributes from Colleagues
Team Ninja, the studio founded by Itagaki which is known for the Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden games, expressed their sorrow on social media: “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Team Ninja’s first leader, Tomonobu Itagaki. We will carry on the philosophy and creativity that Itagaki-san began and continue to create games that many gamers will enjoy. Our deepest condolences for his loss.”
James Mielke, co-founder of Tigertron and BitSummit, also took to social media, stating: “RIP, senpai. You will always be a ninja.” He shared his deep sorrow over losing someone he considered a brother.
A Lasting Impact on Gaming
Born in 1967, Itagaki joined Tecmo in 1992 and made a significant mark in the gaming industry with the Dead or Alive series, which debuted in 1998. His distinctive style and straightforward commentary on industry trends elevated both his profile and Team Ninja’s reputation.
Itagaki’s innovations in the Ninja Gaiden series were particularly influential, with 2004’s Xbox exclusive revitalizing the franchise. Following a public split from Tecmo in 2008, he founded Valhalla Game Studios and continued to develop games, most notably Devil’s Third.
His passing comes just days before the release of Ninja Gaiden 4, an action sequel that he did not contribute to.
