Tomonobu Itagaki, the game designer who revived the original Ninja Gaiden Franchise and Creation dead or alive Series passed away at the age of 58. Ninja Gaiden and dead or alive The franchise has featured a variety of beloved action titles over the years, further demonstrating Itagaki's influence on the gaming industry.
Itagaki first joined Tecmo in 1992, eventually creating his own division, Team Ninja. The team's first project, dead or aliveEntered the scene as a competitor to Sega Virtua FighterAnd it put Itagaki on the map as he launched a successful fighting series. After several years of successful participation dead or alive name, Ninja Gaiden After being dormant for over 10 years, it received attention again in 2004. A modern iteration of Team Ninja Ninja Gaiden making it one of the most notable action franchises of this century.
Tomonobu Itagaki left behind a strong legacy of fighting and action titles.
The news of Itagaki's death was made public through his Facebook page. An anonymous close friend of a famous game designer has been asked to post a final message to the world should he pass away. To date, the exact cause of his death has not been determined, and it is unknown whether that will be the case in the future. But Itagaki's final Facebook post made it clear that he was preparing for the day when he would have to address his family and fans.
last words
The light in 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 leave this last post to someone special.)
My life was a series of wars. I kept winning.
I also caused a lot of problems.
I am proud that I followed my beliefs and fought until the end.
I have no regrets.
However, we are full of regrets about not being able to deliver new works to our fans. sorry.
That's the way it is.
So here goes.
Tomonobu Itagaki
His final message is simple yet heartfelt. Itagaki has distinguished himself in the industry by not being afraid to push the boundaries of gaming with: dead or aliveA controversial mix of sexuality and violence. Fans, colleagues, etc. iron fist Director and producer Katsuhiro Harada sent a message of condolences and shock through social media. Itagaki left Team Ninja in 2008, but his death came just days before the game's highly anticipated release. Ninja Gaiden 4Scheduled to be released on October 21st.
His regret at not being able to give fans another game is understandable, but the legacy he left behind in his past titles still brings joy to many gamers, and it's a powerful mark to leave on the world. The death of Tomonobu Itagaki marks the end of an influential and powerful history in the gaming world. Although many in the industry will miss him, he is still alive and well in action-packed movies. dead or alive Franchises and modern adaptations Ninja Gaiden.
- released
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October 21, 2025
- ESRB
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Ages 17 and older / Blood and gore, intense violence, strong language, obscene themes
- publisher
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Xbox Game Studios
