Dead or Alive and Modern Ninja Gaiden Creator Tomonobu Itagaki Has Died at Age 58

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Tomonobu Itagaki, the creative force behind the popular Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive video game series, has died at age 58. He was known for revitalizing the Ninja Gaiden franchise and creating exciting action games that have been enjoyed by many, leaving a lasting impact on the gaming world.

Tomonobu Itagaki began his career at Tecmo in 1992 and later founded Team Ninja. The team quickly gained recognition with their debut title, *Dead or Alive*, which challenged Sega’s *Virtua Fighter* and established a popular fighting game series. Following the success of *Dead or Alive*, Team Ninja revived the *Ninja Gaiden* franchise in 2004 after a long hiatus. This modern take on *Ninja Gaiden* has cemented its place as a leading action game series of the 21st century.

Tomonobu Itagaki Leaves Behind a Strong Legacy of Fighting and Action Titles

The news of game designer Itagaki’s death was shared on his Facebook page. A friend, who wishes to remain anonymous, posted a final message Itagaki had prepared to be released after his passing. The cause of death hasn’t been announced, and it’s unclear if it ever will be. However, his last post suggests he was thinking about his family and fans and preparing to say goodbye.

Last Words

The light of my life is finally fading.

The fact that this message has been posted means that the time has finally come.

I am no longer in this world.

(I am entrusting this final post to someone important to me.)

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.

I’m really disappointed that I couldn’t share a new project with my fans. I apologize for that.

That’s how it is.

So it goes.

Itagaki Tomonobu

His final message was simple, yet deeply felt. Tomonobu Itagaki left a lasting impact on the gaming world by consistently challenging conventions, famously with the provocative combination of sexuality and violence in games like *Dead or Alive*. Many fans and industry peers, including *Tekken*’s Katsuhiro Harada, have expressed their sadness and surprise online. Itagaki departed from Team Ninja in 2008, and his passing comes just before the release of the long-awaited *Ninja Gaiden 4* on October 21st.

It’s easy to understand Tomonobu Itagaki’s disappointment at not creating another game for his fans, but his previous work continues to entertain gamers and remains a significant contribution to the industry. His death marks the end of a truly impactful career. While he’ll be deeply missed, his legacy lives on through the exciting *Dead or Alive* series and the reimagined *Ninja Gaiden* games.

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2025-10-16 18:35