The legendary Japanese developer Tomonobu Itagaki, recognized for creating the series Dead or Alive and for reviving Ninja Gaiden In 2004, he died at the 58 years old. Hours before his death was confirmed, a posthumous message appeared on his Facebook page, posted by a person close to him. In this text, Itagaki left an emotional goodbye to his followers, in which he reaffirmed his combative spirit and his passion for video games.
Tomonobu Itagaki: A legend left
In his post titled Last words, the creative wrote:
“The light of my life finally fades.
The fact that this message has been published means that the time has finally come. I am no longer in this world.
My life has been a series of battles. I kept winning.
I have also caused many problems.
I am proud to say that I followed my beliefs and fought to the end. I don’t regret it.
However, I am deeply sorry that I was not able to give a new job to all my fans. I’m sorry. That’s the way things are.”
The message, brief but deeply human, generated a wave of reactions among his fans and colleagues, who highlighted his influence and character within the industry.
reactions from the video game world
Team Ninja, the study that Tomonobu Itagaki led during the glory years of Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden, published a statement on social networks expressing their sorrow:
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of the first Team Ninja leader Tomonobu Itagaki. We will continue with the philosophy and creativity that Itagaki-san initiated and will continue to create games that many players will enjoy. Our deepest condolences on its loss.”
For his part, James Mielke, co-founder of Tigertron and Bitsummit, shared a message loaded with emotion:
“Today I lost someone who was like a brother to me. I am devastated. Anyone who knows me knows how united we were. Rest in peace, senpai. You will always be a ninja.”
As well Katsuhiro Harada, producer of Tekken, expressed his disbelief at the news on X/Twitter, joining the multiple voices that lamented the developer’s departure.
A legacy marked by action and controversy
born in 1967, Tomonobu Itagaki joined Tecmo In 1992, starting with graphic works in Tecmo Super Bowl. His true footprint began in 1998, when he created Dead or Alive. This drew attention to its visual style, combat dynamics and technical focus inspired by Virtua Fighter, of which he declared himself a fan.
With Dead or Alive 2 For Dreamcast, Tomonobu Itagaki and his team, Team Ninja, achieved international fame. His next great work came in 2004 with Ninja Gaiden For Xbox, a demanding and violent reinvention of the NES classic. The public acclaimed him for his difficulty and precision. A year later he launched Ninja Gaiden Black, considered by many to be one of the best action games ever created.
However, his career was also marked by controversy. In 2008, Itagaki Tecmo left After a legal dispute over defaults and differences with the directive. Shortly after he founded Valhalla Game Studios, with which he launched Devil’s Third In 2015, a title that divided opinions but demonstrated its unwavering desire to continue creating.
In 2021, after several years of teaching, Tomonobu Itagaki founded Itagaki Games, stating that he wanted to “reproduce games”. His death comes just a few days before the launch of Ninja Gaiden 4, a new installment in which, ironically, did not participate.
Tomonobu ItagakI: an indomitable spirit
Tomonobu Itagaki was an unrepeatable figure in the industry: challenging, passionate and faithful to his convictions. His direct personality, his love of action and his iconic look—always in sunglasses— made him a living legend of Japanese development.
His final words perfectly summarize his legacy: a man who lived and died fighting for his ideals, leaving behind an indelible mark on the history of video games.
