Tomonobu Itagaki, a well-known video game creator, has died at 58. He was best known for creating the *Dead or Alive* fighting game series and bringing back the *Ninja Gaiden* franchise in the 2000s. His passing was announced on his Facebook page, where he shared a final message.
In a final message, Itagaki announced his passing. He stated that his life was coming to an end and that this post confirmed his death. He entrusted a close friend with sharing this final statement.
I lived a life full of challenges, and I always found a way to overcome them. I wasn’t always easy on others, and I admit I caused some problems. I’m proud of fighting for what I believed in, right to the very end. I don’t regret my choices, but I am truly saddened that I couldn’t create more for my fans. I apologize. That’s just how things are.
Tomonobu Itagaki began his career in video games in 1992, working as a graphics programmer on Tecmo Super Bowl. He gained widespread recognition in 1996 with the release of Dead or Alive. In 2001, he took leadership of Team Ninja, a studio he originally established as Tecmo Creative #3 in the 1990s, and spearheaded the successful reboot of the Ninja Gaiden series. Itagaki also served as producer and director for several popular titles, including Dead or Alive Ultimate, Dead or Alive 4, and Ninja Gaiden 2.
Itagaki became well-known for his outspoken opinions about the video game industry. He eventually left Tecmo following a dispute over a promised bonus. He then started Valhalla Game Studios and created Devil’s Third, which was released on Wii U and PC, but received poor reviews.
Following his departure from Valhalla in 2017, renowned game developer Itagaki re-entered the industry in 2021 by founding his own studio, Itagaki Games. News of his passing has prompted an outpouring of tributes from across the gaming world. James Mielke, co-founder of Tigertron and BitSummit, was among the first to express his sadness, writing, “Rest in peace, senpai. You will always be a ninja.”
As a huge fan of Team NINJA, I was so incredibly saddened to hear about the passing of Tomonobu Itagaki, their original leader. It feels like a real loss for the gaming world. The team has said they’ll honor his vision and keep making games that we, as players, will love, and that’s a beautiful tribute. Sending my deepest condolences to everyone at Team NINJA.
— Team NINJA (@TeamNINJAStudio) October 16, 2025
No way, Itagaki-san
you said, “Let’s grab a drink sometime,” didn’t you?
I don’t believe it. I don’t.— Katsuhiro Harada (@Harada_TEKKEN) October 16, 2025
Man, I just heard about Tomonobu Itagaki passing away. He was one of a kind – a truly independent developer who didn’t compromise his vision. His games were wild and unforgettable, and I was a huge fan growing up. I even got to meet him a couple of times at E3. I hope his spirit of going all-in inspires other developers to keep pushing boundaries.
— James Montagna (@JamesPopStar) October 16, 2025
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2025-10-16 14:39