Tomonobu Itagaki, former director of Tecmo and the man behind the iconic Dead or Alive franchise and the modern version of NINJA GAIDEN (2004), has reportedly passed away at the age of 58.
This sad news was shared in the last post on his Facebook account. In a message titled “My Last Words,” Itagaki wrote that the light of his life “would fade” and that the message would be posted after he was gone.
News of the Death of the Creator of Dead or Alive
Tomonobu Itagaki said that his life was full of struggles, victories, and mistakes, but he was proud that he had stuck to his beliefs until the end. Itagaki also expressed regret that he had not been able to present new works to his fans.
“I am proud to have fought to the end according to my own beliefs. I have no regrets. However, I am sad that I cannot present new works to my fans. I apologize,” he wrote in his farewell message.
In response to the creator’s passing, Team NINJA, the studio he once led, expressed their deepest condolences.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Team NINJA’s founding leader, Tomonobu Itagaki. We will carry on the philosophy and creativity he instilled in us, and continue to create games that are loved by many gamers,” read their official statement.
About Dead or Alive
Dead or Alive is a Japanese media franchise that focuses on a series of fighting games developed by Team Ninja and published by Koei Tecmo (formerly Tecmo). The gameplay mainly features fast-paced hand-to-hand combat in a three-dimensional arena.
The series began with the release of its first game in 1996, and has since grown to include five main sequels, various updates, spin-offs, print media, film adaptations, and a wide range of merchandise.
Set in modern times, the story centers on the Dead or Alive World Combat Championship, an international martial arts tournament that brings together fighters from around the world to compete for the championship title and a huge prize.
The tournament is organized by the DOA Tournament Executive Committee (DOATEC). The conflict between the participating ninjas and DOATEC is the main plot of this series.
Dead or Alive achieved great success both critically and commercially. The series is known for its dynamic combat system, stunning visuals, and innovative interactive environments.
This franchise has received numerous awards and accolades from fans and critics alike. Several sequels, such as DoA 2 and DoA 3, have even received widespread praise and become important milestones in the development of the fighting game genre.
