The gaming community is mourning the loss of legendary Japanese video game developer Tomonobu Itagaki, who passed away at the age of 58.
Known for his groundbreaking work on the Dead or Alive series and his critically acclaimed revival of the Ninja Gaiden franchise in 2004, Itagaki had arranged for a heartfelt ‘final words’ message to be published on his social media in the event of his passing. This poignant message went live just hours before friends confirmed his death:
Last Words
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
Following the news, tributes poured in from across the gaming industry. James Mielke, co-founder of Tigertron and BitSummit, expressed his grief, stating: “RIP, senpai. You will always be a ninja.” He added that Itagaki was like a brother to him, highlighting their close bond.
Tekken chief Katsuhiro Harada also posted on social media to express his disbelief at the news:
No way, Itagaki-san
you said, “Let’s grab a drink sometime,” didn’t you?
I don’t believe it. I don’t.— Katsuhiro Harada (@Harada_TEKKEN) October 16, 2025
saw Tomonobu Itagaki has passed away— a rare breed of ronin auteur developer; uncompromising, chaotic, unforgettable
I grew up inspired by his work and had a few chances to encounter him in the E3 halls… May his influence burn in every creator who still believes in going all in
— James Montagna (@JamesPopStar) October 16, 2025
RIP Tomonobu Itagaki, the legendary creator of Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive. Here’s a video from 17 years ago where I interviewed him about Ninja Gaiden II for Xbox 360.
— Danny Peña (@godfree) October 16, 2025
Born in 1967, Itagaki began his career at Tecmo in 1992, initially contributing to the graphics of Tecmo Super Bowl. His distinct, bold vision truly emerged with the creation of the Dead or Alive series in 1998, which gained attention for its character design and dynamic fighting mechanics. The release of Dead or Alive 2 for the Dreamcast solidified Itagaki and Team Ninja’s reputation, and the developer, easily recognizable by his ever-present shades, became known for his outspoken commentary on gaming trends.
In 2004, Itagaki revitalized the Ninja Gaiden franchise with an Xbox exclusive, injecting new life into the hardcore action genre. This was followed by Ninja Gaiden Black, widely regarded by some as one of the greatest action games ever made, and later, Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword for the Nintendo DS and Ninja Gaiden 2 for Xbox 360.
Itagaki’s tenure at Tecmo concluded with a highly publicized departure in June 2008, stemming from a dispute over unpaid completion bonuses. He subsequently founded Valhalla Game Studios with former Team Ninja members, leading to the release of Devil’s Third. In 2017, he stepped down from Valhalla, and in 2021, he established Itagaki Games, driven by a desire to “make a game again” after several years dedicated to teaching game development to a new generation.
His passing occurs just days before the scheduled release of Ninja Gaiden 4, a title with which he had no involvement.