Castlevania and Bloodstained Developer Shutaro Ida Dies at 52

The gaming community is mourning the loss of a titan in the Metroidvania genre, as longtime Castlevania developer and director Shutaro Ida has passed away at the age of 52. His family confirmed the news through a statement on his official social media account, noting that he died on February 10, following an eighteen-month battle with pancreatic cancer. Ida was a cornerstone of the Castlevania series and served as the creative lead for its spiritual successor, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night.