Tomonobu Itagaki, Creator of Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden, Passes Away at 58
- Sagar Mankar
- Oct 16
- 2 min read
Tomonobu Itagaki, the legendary Japanese game designer best known as the creator of the Dead or Alive series and the driving force behind the Ninja Gaiden reboot, has passed away at the age of 58.
Itagaki’s career began in the early 1990s when he joined Tecmo as a graphics programmer. By 1998, he had already made his mark with the launch of Dead or Alive, a fighting game that quickly stood out for its technical polish and bold design choices. Over the years, he directed and produced multiple entries in the franchise, including Dead or Alive Ultimate and the spin-off Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball (2003).
His work didn’t stop there; he also spearheaded Tecmo’s acclaimed revival of Ninja Gaiden, delivering Ninja Gaiden (2004), Ninja Gaiden Black (2005), and Ninja Gaiden 2 (2008), titles that redefined action combat for a new generation of players.
News of his passing was shared through a message titled “Last Words”, posted on his behalf by a close friend. In the note, Itagaki reflected on his life and career, writing:
“My life has been a series of battles. I kept winning. I’ve caused a lot of trouble, too. I’m proud to say that I followed my beliefs and fought to the end. I have no regrets. However, I’m filled with regret that I wasn’t able to deliver a new work to all my fans. I’m sorry. That’s just how it is. So it goes.”
Tributes have poured in from across the industry. James Mielke, BitSummit co-founder and former Q-Games producer, described Itagaki as “like a brother,” revealing that the two had been working on a book together chronicling the developer’s career. Mielke said he intends to finish the project, ensuring Itagaki’s memoirs are published.
Meanwhile, Katsuhiro Harada, producer of the Tekken series, expressed disbelief on X, recalling their friendship after years of rivalry: “No way, Itagaki-san. You said ‘let’s grab a drink sometime,’ didn’t you? I don’t believe it.”
Team Ninja, the studio Itagaki helped establish, also released a statement:
“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.”
Beyond his games, Itagaki was known for his outspoken personality, trademark sunglasses, and willingness to stir debate. His split from Tecmo in 2008 was highly public, involving lawsuits over unpaid bonuses and creative disputes. After leaving, he founded Valhalla Game Studios in 2010, which released Devil’s Third in 2015, and later launched Itagaki Games in 2021, though the studio was dissolved in 2024.
His passing comes just days before the release of Ninja Gaiden 4, a project he was not involved in but one that exists because of the foundation he built.
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