Tomonobu Itagaki, the game designer and former Team Ninja boss known for creating the Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive series, has died at the age of 58. His death was confirmed by a close friend and former colleague, who visited him in hospital two weeks before his passing.
Itagaki joined Japanese developer Tecmo in 1992, where he led the creation of the fighting game Dead or Alive in 1996. He later reinvigorated the side-scrolling ninja platformer Ninja Gaiden in 2004, cementing his legacy. Under his leadership, Team Ninja produced a string of acclaimed titles for the Xbox 360, including Dead or Alive 3 and 4, Ninja Gaiden Black, and Ninja Gaiden II.
Known for his sunglasses, long black hair, and leather jackets, Itagaki cultivated a pugnacious public persona. He famously feuded with Namco's Tekken series after a disparaging advertisement, a rivalry that helped elevate Dead or Alive onto the world stage. Despite his tough image, those close to him described him as mild-mannered, soft-spoken, and fiercely loyal.
Itagaki left Tecmo in 2008, taking his core team with him. He later founded Itagaki Games, but his final project, Devil's Third, was released on Wii U in 2015. In his last social media post, he expressed regret at not being able to deliver a new game to fans, writing: 'I have no regrets. I only feel deep sorrow that I couldn’t deliver a new work to all my fans.'
He is survived by his family and a legacy of influential video games that brought joy to millions.
