The gaming world mourns the profound loss of legendary developer Tomonobu Itagaki, who passed away at 58. Renowned for his pivotal roles in creating the iconic Dead or Alive fighting series and revitalizing Ninja Gaiden in the 2000s, Itagaki’s passing was announced on his personal profile, where he shared a poignant final message.
In a deeply moving farewell, Itagaki’s message, shared posthumously, read: ‘Final Words, the flame of my life is about to go out. The fact that this message has been posted means that my time has finally come. I am no longer in this world–I have entrusted someone important to me with this final message.’ He reflected on a life of constant battle and unwavering convictions, stating, ‘My life was a continuous battle which I kept winning. I caused a lot of trouble for others too. I take pride in having fought to the end, and having followed my convictions. I have no regrets, but I am deeply sorry that I could not deliver new works to my fans. I’m sorry. So it goes.’
Itagaki’s illustrious career began in 1992 as a graphics programmer on Tecmo Super Bowl. His breakthrough came in 1996 with the critically acclaimed Dead or Alive. By 2001, he was at the helm of Team Ninja—a studio he originally founded as Tecmo Creative #3 in the ’90s—where he spearheaded the triumphant return of Ninja Gaiden. His directorial and production credits include fan favorites like Dead or Alive Ultimate, Dead or Alive 4, and Ninja Gaiden 2.
Known for his candid and often unfiltered critiques of the video game industry, Itagaki eventually parted ways with Tecmo, citing a dispute over an unpaid bonus. He went on to establish Valhalla Game Studios, where he released Devil’s Third for Wii U and PC, though it received a less-than-favorable reception.
In 2017, after his tenure at Valhalla, Itagaki made a comeback to game development, founding Itagaki Games in 2021. The news of his passing has prompted an outpouring of heartfelt tributes from across the industry. James Mielke, co-founder of Tigertron and BitSummit, was among the first to honor his legacy, simply writing, ‘RIP, senpai. You will always be a ninja.’
Team NINJA shared their condolences: ‘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. From everyone at Team…’
Katsuhiro Harada, from Tekken, expressed his disbelief: ‘No way, Itagaki-san, you said, “Let’s grab a drink sometime,” didn’t you? I don’t believe it. I don’t.’
James Montagna, a game director, paid tribute: ‘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.’