Remembering Tomonobu Itagaki: The Legacy of the Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden Creator Who Fought for His Beliefs Until the End – Fan Reactions to His Heartfelt Farewell

Japanese video game creator Tomonobu Itagaki has passed away at the age of 58. He was a key figure in the gaming world, known for starting the Dead or Alive series and reviving Ninja Gaiden in 2004. Just hours before his friends confirmed his passing, a heartfelt message appeared on his Facebook page, which he had asked a friend to post if something happened to him.

In this message, he reflected on his life. “The light of my life is finally fading,” he wrote. He expressed pride in his battles and creativity, yet regret for not delivering new work to his fans.

Team Ninja, the studio where Itagaki made his mark, shared a tribute on social media. They expressed sorrow over his loss and committed to continue his legacy: “We will carry on the philosophy and creativity that Itagaki-san began.”

Industry peers also paid their respects. James Mielke, co-founder of Tigertron, shared how close he was to Itagaki, saying, “Today I lost someone who was like a brother to me.” Katsuhiro Harada, known for the Tekken series, posted his disbelief, stating, “I don’t believe it.”

Itagaki was born in 1967 and began working at Tecmo in 1992. His bold style became evident when he launched Dead or Alive in 1998, known for its distinctive female characters and gameplay mechanics. His work on Dead or Alive 2 for the Dreamcast showcased significant graphical advancements and brought him into the spotlight.

Ninja Gaiden, released as an Xbox exclusive, revitalized the action game genre. Critics often cite Ninja Gaiden Black as one of the best games of its kind.

In 2008, Itagaki had a public fallout with Tecmo over unpaid bonuses, leading him to establish Valhalla Game Studios, where he released Devil’s Third. Later, he formed Itagaki Games in 2021, aiming to mentor younger developers while expressing his desire to create again.

Interestingly, his passing coincides with the upcoming release of Ninja Gaiden 4, a game he was not involved in, highlighting a bittersweet end to his story.

His influence on the gaming industry remains profound, with many players and developers inspired by his work. The gaming world will miss his unique vision and voice.

For further reading about his impact on the video game industry, you can visit IGN’s tribute to Tomonobu Itagaki.

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