Castlevania and Bloodstained developer Shutaro Ida dies aged 52

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Shutaro Ida, a veteran developer known for his work on the Castlevania and Bloodstained series, passed away at the age of 52 after a fight with cancer.

I’ve been a huge fan of action-platformers for years, and I owe a lot of that enjoyment to Ida. He’s the guy behind a lot of the classic Castlevania games, and more recently, he was the creative director on Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night. Seriously, he’s spent decades making some of the most important and influential games in the genre – a true legend!

In a statement shared by Automaton, ArtPlay co-founder Koji Igarashi honored the memory of Ida.

We are deeply saddened to announce that our Creative Director, Shutaro, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, after a battle with cancer lasting about eighteen months. He was instrumental in the creation of Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow, and his exceptional talent was key to the success of many critically acclaimed games. We wouldn’t have achieved so much without him.

Once I moved on from working on Castlevania, we didn’t get as many chances to collaborate, but I’m incredibly thankful he immediately agreed to join my current team. I truly believe Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night wouldn’t have been a success without his amazing support. He’s been a champion for me for more than two decades – a dedicated game developer who poured his heart and soul into his work.

The news of his terminal cancer diagnosis in September 2024 was a huge shock. The following year and a half were undoubtedly a difficult struggle. While we are deeply saddened by his passing, there’s comfort in knowing he’s no longer in pain. After a life lived with such energy, we hope he finds eternal peace.

I’m heartbroken to share that the incredible person behind Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement has passed away. This game was truly special, filled with his unique vision, and we’re all committed to finishing it as a tribute to him. We know he wouldn’t want us to give up, and we’re determined to make him proud. More than ever, we’d really appreciate your support and encouragement as we work to bring his dream to life.

Our thoughts are with his bereaved family, and we offer our deepest condolences.”

We are deeply saddened to announce that SHUTARO, known as Curry Sensei, passed away on February 10th after a battle with pancreatic cancer. We express our sincere gratitude for all the kindness and support he received during his life. While his journey in this world has ended, his creations will live on. We hope you continue to enjoy the games he made.

With heartfelt gratitude,
The Family

— カレー仙人 (@CurryHermit) February 16, 2026

I’ve been a huge Castlevania fan for years, and I always knew Ida was a core part of what made those games so great. He worked with Koji Igarashi – basically the mastermind behind a lot of my favorite Castlevania titles like Dawn of Sorrow – for over twenty years! He really helped shape how those games encouraged you to explore and discover things, and honestly, that style of gameplay ended up becoming a huge thing – it’s what most people now call ‘Metroidvania.’ He was a big reason why those games felt so good to play.

Following his departure from Konami, Ida became Creative Director at ArtPlay, where he led the development of Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night. This 2019 game was highly acclaimed as a true successor to the Castlevania series. He was working on Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement at the time of his death, and ArtPlay has stated they will continue to develop the game, honoring his creative goals.

The passing of this talented developer is a significant loss for the gaming community, particularly for fans of Castlevania and Bloodstained. His contributions continue to impact the genre and inspire gamers worldwide.

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2026-02-16 13:19