Tomonobu Itagaki, the legendary game developer behind Dead or Alive and the modern Ninja Gaiden series, has passed away at the age of 58.
Itagaki joined Tecmo in the early 1990s and quickly rose to prominence as one of Japan’s most outspoken and passionate game creators. As the founder of Team Ninja, he directed and produced the first four Dead or Alive games, along with Dead or Alive Ultimate and the fan-favorite spin-off Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball. He also revitalized Tecmo’s Ninja Gaiden franchise, overseeing Ninja Gaiden, Ninja Gaiden Black, and Ninja Gaiden 2—all critically acclaimed for their fast-paced action and challenging gameplay.
A farewell message written by Itagaki was posted to his official Facebook page after his passing.
“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’m asking a loved one to make this final post).
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.”
James Mielke, co-founder of BitSummit and a longtime friend of Itagaki, shared a heartfelt tribute on Bluesky.
“Today I lost someone who was truly like a brother to me,” Mielke wrote. “Anyone who knows me knows how close we were. RIP, senpai. You will always be a ninja.”
Mielke also revealed that he and Itagaki had been working together on a book chronicling the developer’s life and career, based on hours of recorded conversations. He said he plans to see the project through to completion.
Known for his bold personality, Itagaki often courted controversy during his career — most famously feuding with the Tekken franchise over a radio ad he felt disrespected Dead or Alive. That rivalry eventually ended amicably when he and Tekken’s Katsuhiro Harada reconciled in 2008, with Harada referring to him as a “comrade in arms.”
In response to Itagaki’s passing, Harada posted on X (formerly Twitter):
“No way, Itagaki-san. You said, ‘Let’s grab a drink sometime,’ didn’t you? I don’t believe it. I don’t.”
Tomonobu Itagaki’s influence on the action and fighting game genres is undeniable. His fearless design philosophy and larger-than-life personality left a lasting mark on the industry — one that fans and fellow developers alike will never forget.
