Legendary ‘Ninja Gaiden’ and ‘Dead or Alive’ Designer Dies at 58

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Tomonobu Itagaki, the celebrated Japanese game designer known for creating the popular Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive games, has died at 58. His final message was reportedly shared on his Facebook page on October 16th.

In a translated message prepared before his death, Itagaki Tomonobu expressed a life lived through constant challenges, which he faced with pride and without regret. He stated he was proud to have remained true to his convictions and fought until the very end, but deeply regretted not being able to create one final game for his fans. He apologized for this unfulfilled promise.

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Tomonobu Itagaki became a leading game developer in Japan during the 2000s. He’s best known for creating the popular fighting game series *Dead or Alive* and for revitalizing the *Ninja Gaiden* franchise with a critically acclaimed Xbox title in 2004. That *Ninja Gaiden* game was praised for its difficult but rewarding combat and tight controls.

He was well-known in the video game world for his bold personality and innovative designs.

Following his departure from Tecmo in 2008, Itagaki established Valhalla Game Studios and released the action title Devil’s Third in 2015. He then founded Itagaki Games in 2021 with the goal of focusing again on game development, but the studio ultimately closed in 2024 without launching any new games.

Itagaki consistently earned praise for revolutionizing action and fighting games. He skillfully blended complex gameplay with iconic characters, inspiring countless developers and thrilling players globally. Though sometimes a controversial figure, he was widely respected by fans for his commitment to creating high-quality, innovative games.

At this time, no further details have been released about the circumstances of his death.

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2025-10-17 12:44