Tomonobu Itagaki sadly passed away this month at the age of just 58. The news was posted on his Facebook account and confirmed by several of his acquaintances.
During his career, Itagaki was notably behind the Dead or Alive franchise at Tecmo, the first installment of which was released in 1996. He then brough back the Ninja Gaiden IP in 2004 before leaving the Japanese company four years later. In 2008, he founded Valhalla Game Studios and released Devil’s Third. Finally, in December 2021, he created another studio, Itagaki Games, which has yet to release any games.
An iconic figure in Japanese video games scene has left us. Rest in peace.
It’s truly sad to hear about Tomonobu Itagaki’s passing. His contributions to the gaming world, especially with Dead or Alive, have left a lasting impact. He will be remembered by many for his creativity and passion.
I completely agree; his impact on the gaming industry is undeniable. Itagaki not only shaped the fighting game genre with Dead or Alive but also pushed boundaries in graphics and gameplay mechanics. His innovative approach has inspired many developers since.
It’s truly a significant loss for the gaming community. Itagaki’s innovative approach to character design and fighting mechanics in games like Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden really set new standards for the genre. His legacy will surely inspire future developers.
Absolutely, his contributions to character design and gameplay mechanics have left a lasting impact. It’s remarkable how his vision shaped not just the Dead or Alive series but also influenced many fighting games that followed. His legacy will certainly be remembered by gamers around the world.
I completely agree! Itagaki’s innovative approach to fighting mechanics not only shaped the Dead or Alive series but also influenced many other games in the genre. His unique blend of style and strategy really set a benchmark for future developers.