**Tomonobu Itagaki, Legendary Game Developer, Has Passed Away at 58**
Tomonobu Itagaki, a transformative figure in contemporary action games, has died at the age of 58 following a serious illness. Renowned for his influential work at Tecmo, the company he joined in 1992, Itagaki led Team Ninja and was instrumental in the revival of *Ninja Gaiden*, as well as the creation of the *Dead or Alive* series.
Itagaki’s career at Tecmo came to a controversial end in 2008, after which he founded Valhalla Game Studios, releasing *Devil’s Third* on the Wii U. Known for his trademark sunglasses, pockmarked skin, and outspoken interviews, Itagaki was respected not only for his confident persona but also because he and Team Ninja consistently delivered high-quality games that lived up to their reputation.
The first 3D *Ninja Gaiden*, released in 2004, boldly took on Capcom and the *Devil May Cry* series and, by many accounts, surpassed it. Both *Ninja Gaiden* and its sequel remain two of the finest hack-and-slash games ever made.
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**A Personal Farewell**
In what appears to be a final message, Itagaki wrote:
*“The fact that this sentence has been posted means it’s finally time. I’m no longer in this world.”*
Following this, a heartfelt note seemingly addressed to someone special—likely his daughter—reads:
*“My life has been a series of battles. We stayed winning. I’ve caused a lot of trouble. I stand by my beliefs and I own them. No regrets.”*
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**Later Career and Legacy**
Itagaki’s last game was *Devil’s Third*, an ambitious but ill-fated attempt to blend first-person shooter elements with third-person combat. After dissolving Valhalla Game Studios in 2021, he founded Itagaki Games, which was reportedly working on an unannounced title for current platforms.
James Mielke, a close friend, expressed his grief on Bluesky:
*”Today I lost someone who was truly like a brother to me. I am gutted to the core. I guess I can say so now that it’s on his Facebook page. He even listed himself as my actual brother on Facebook. Anyone who knows me knows how close we were. RIP, senpai. You will always be a ninja.”*
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**A Champion of Innovation and the Underdog**
Itagaki was known for his fighting spirit and for championing the underdog. In 2007, he said,
*”I like to support people who are trying to challenge the status quo, and do new things.”*
This outlook influenced his backing of Microsoft and the Xbox in the early 2000s. Understanding the challenges Microsoft would face in the Japanese market, Itagaki positioned himself as a prominent Japanese creator working on Xbox hardware. Team Ninja and Itagaki produced some of Xbox’s greatest early exclusives, and their impact endures today—evidenced by the recent release of *Ninja Gaiden 4*, a collaboration between Team Ninja (now without Itagaki) and PlatinumGames.
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**On Game Difficulty and Philosophy**
Itagaki often spoke humorously about the notorious difficulty of his games, insisting it was essential to the experience. He was equally candid about his disdain for the influence of “American marketers” on the video game industry.
In a 2007 interview with *Game Developer* magazine, Itagaki shared his philosophy of game creation:
*”In Japan, there is a saying, ‘kachoufuugetsu’, which means ‘flowers, birds, wind, and the moon.’ This phrase summarizes things that human beings find inherently appealing. A flower’s beauty, the freedom symbolized by a bird’s flight, the mood conveyed by the wind, and the curiosity evoked by the moon—all these evoke universal human emotions transcending national boundaries.*
*I believe that tapping into these universal feelings makes it easier to create a game enjoyed worldwide. Of course, there will always be exceptions—someone might dislike flowers and question why they were shown flowers—but that’s just how it is. Marketers might argue otherwise, relying on focus testing, but I stick to my approach. That’s my philosophy.”*
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**Remembering Tomonobu Itagaki**
Born in Tokyo on April 1, 1967, Tomonobu Itagaki’s lasting impact on the gaming world is undeniable. His greatest games stand as a testament to his skill, vision, and tenacious spirit.
His final message to fans ends with a poignant, Vonnegut-influenced farewell:
*“I just feel so sorry to all my fans that I can’t deliver my new work: sorry. It is what it is. So it goes.”*
Tomonobu Itagaki will be remembered as a true ninja master of the gaming industry — a creator who dared to fight for innovation, challenge norms, and never apologize for his vision. Rest in peace.
https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/tomonobu-itagaki-the-tecmo-genius-behind-team-ninja-has-died-at-the-age-of-58/
