Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden Creator Tomonobu Itagaki Passes Away at 58
Japanese video game legend Tomonobu Itagaki, the force behind Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden, has died at 58, confirmed in a final message on his official Facebook page and shared by a close associate. Known for his bold persona and signature style, he leaves an enduring mark on action games.
Some tough news out of the game world today: Tomonobu Itagaki, the sunglasses-wearing force behind Dead or Alive and the Ninja Gaiden reboot, has died at 58. The announcement came through his official Facebook, where a final note he wrote was posted by someone close to him. Cause of death has not been shared. The response across the industry was immediate — shock, tributes, and a lot of people remembering a designer who never played it safe.
What he built — and why you still feel it
If you ever bounced off Ninja Gaiden on Xbox because it beat you into the floor — and then came back anyway — that was Itagaki’s whole deal: precision, swagger, and zero apologies. He was part personality, part provocateur, and all-in on whatever he made.
- 1992: Joins Tecmo (back before it was Koei Tecmo) and works on Tecmo Super Bowl.
- 1996: Creates Dead or Alive, a 3D fighter that turned heads and helped define the era.
- Late 90s–early 2000s: Leads Team Ninja, which becomes one of Tecmo’s standout internal studios. Dead or Alive 2 and 3 hit big, and Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball stirs up controversy for obvious reasons — Itagaki stays unapologetically Itagaki.
- 2004: Directs Ninja Gaiden for the original Xbox — a brutal, technical masterclass.
- 2005–2008: Follows with Ninja Gaiden Black and Ninja Gaiden 2, both action staples that cement his rep as a fearless designer.
- 2008: Very public split with Tecmo over unpaid bonuses.
- 2010s: Founds Valhalla Game Studios; ships Devil’s Third in 2015 — rough edges and all — while mentoring younger devs.
- 2021: Launches Itagaki Games after saying he wanted to 'make a game again' following years of teaching. At the time of his passing, he was reportedly working on an unannounced project.
His last message
Hours before the news was confirmed, a farewell post he wrote appeared on his Facebook titled 'Last Words.' It sounds exactly like him — blunt, proud, and honest about the thing that bothered him most: not getting one more game out the door.
'My life has been a series of battles. I kept winning. I have caused a lot of trouble, too. I am proud to say that I followed my beliefs and fought to the end. I have no regrets. However, I am filled with regret that I wasn't able to deliver a new work to all my fans. I'm sorry. That's just how it is. So it goes.'
How the industry is reacting
Team Ninja — the studio he originally led — offered condolences on October 16, 2025, and said they plan to carry forward the philosophy and creativity he started. Tekken producer Katsuhiro Harada, a longtime friend and occasional rival, posted that he was in disbelief and still half-expected to catch up for drinks. That pretty much sums up the mood: disbelief and respect for a guy who never backed down.
The timing with Ninja Gaiden 4
In a twist that feels almost scripted, his death lands just days before the planned release of Ninja Gaiden 4. He was not involved with the new sequel, but its existence at all says plenty about the foundation he laid.
Why he mattered
Itagaki was more than the shades and the bravado. He helped set the bar for 3D fighters and high-speed, high-skill action games, and he stuck to his creative guns even when it cost him. Whether you loved his work or bounced off it, you felt it — in the difficulty curves, in the attitude, and in the way a clean combo can feel like a victory lap.
Farewell, Itagaki-san. The games still carry the fight you loved.