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Let’s pay homage to Tomonobu Itagaki, the man behind Dead or Alive

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Let’s pay homage to Tomonobu Itagaki, the man behind Dead or Alive
Let’s pay homage to Tomonobu Itagaki, the man behind Dead or Alive

This past October 16, we got some terrible news in the video game world. As always, it is heartbreaking for an entire community to learn of the passing of a great creator of this universe that is so dear to so many. And this time, it was sadly Tomonobu Itagaki who left us, at the age of only 58.

The Dead or Alive franchise

This Japanese figure leaves behind a true legacy, notably with the Dead or Alive franchise, which he created in 1996 and continued to work until Dead or Alive 4 in 2005. He wasn’t behind the following two entries, Dead or Alive 5 and 6.

This legendary franchise has carved out a place for itself in the fighting game landscape. Despite a lighter tone than its competitors, its gameplay remains rich and demanding, offering Tecmo impressive results with over 10.76 million copies sold worldwide and more than 25.76 million players if free downloads are included.

Of course, the series embraces fan service, with hyper-sexualized female characters, which has also contributed to its notoriety—and its unapologetic marketing.

The heyday of Ninja Gaiden

In 2004, Itagaki also took on another cult series: Ninja Gaiden. He directed the Xbox opus, Ninja Gaiden Sigma in 2007 on PlayStation 3, Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword in 2008 on Nintendo DS, and then the most cult of them all: Ninja Gaiden II on Xbox 360.

Behind these two franchises lies one studio: Team Ninja. Founded by Itagaki himself in 1995, he ran the company until 2008, when he handed over the reins to Yosuke Hayashi.

A departure from Team Ninja that did not go unnoticed

This decision was motivated by a sexual harassment complaint filed by a former Tecmo employee. She claimed to have been subjected to unwanted advances from Itagaki for several years. He defended himself by insisting that it was a consensual relationship, and the investigation ultimately proved him right.

Nevertheless, despite this conclusion, Tecmo and Team Ninja decided to demote him, accusing him of mixing his private and professional lives. Shortly after his departure, Itagaki founded a new studio: Valhalla Game Studios. There, he developed a new project, Devil’s Third, released in 2015 on Wii U.

This third-person action game received negative reviews, with a Metascore of only 43/100 and a user score of 6.7/10 on Metacritic. It was also a commercial failure, with rumors indicating that only around 3,000 copies were sold in the United States during the first month, although distribution seemed to be very limited. In the United Kingdom, the game didn’t even make it into the top 40 weekly sales.

Years of inactivity in the gaming world, but with an enduring legacy

After this attempt, Itagaki kept a low profile in the gaming world and did not sign any new titles. However, his legacy remains immense, as does his influence on other creators. He appears in the credits of several games in the “Special Thanks” section.

This mention is never insignificant: it is often given to those who have provided personal support to a project, acted as a mentor, inspired a team, or simply as a tribute. His name can be found in Halo 3, Jupiter & Mars, and Wanted: Dead.

Despite his ups and downs, we felt it was essential to pay a final tribute to this important figure in the video game industry. He inspired entire generations and will undoubtedly continue to inspire those to come. This is also the perfect opportunity to dust off Dead or Alive for one last battle or to revisit Ninja Gaiden, the main series of which now boasts a fourth installment.

Numerous tributes around the world

Although his separation from Team Ninja was turbulent, the studio still paid tribute to him on social media with the following message:

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Team NINJA’s founding director, Tomonobu Itagaki. We will carry on the philosophy and creativity pioneered by Mr. Itagaki and continue to create games that will appeal to many players.”

These words were echoed by Xbox CEO Phil Spencer, who also wrote:

“A video game legend who had a remarkable impact on the industry. I am grateful for his friendship and for being one of the first to support us in modernizing and creating new franchises. A true creative who contributed enormously to his projects. We continue to play his games and honor him, as his legacy lives on through the games he helped create.”


Experience expert security system installation & low‑voltage services across North & South Carolina with 360 Technology Group — your local, customer‑focused partner for over three decades.

Author: 360 Technology Group

Related Story
Uncategorized

Let’s pay homage to Tomonobu Itagaki, the man behind Dead or Alive

admin 0
Let’s pay homage to Tomonobu Itagaki, the man behind Dead or Alive
Let’s pay homage to Tomonobu Itagaki, the man behind Dead or Alive

This past October 16, we got some terrible news in the video game world. As always, it is heartbreaking for an entire community to learn of the passing of a great creator of this universe that is so dear to so many. And this time, it was sadly Tomonobu Itagaki who left us, at the age of only 58.

The Dead or Alive franchise

This Japanese figure leaves behind a true legacy, notably with the Dead or Alive franchise, which he created in 1996 and continued to work until Dead or Alive 4 in 2005. He wasn’t behind the following two entries, Dead or Alive 5 and 6.

This legendary franchise has carved out a place for itself in the fighting game landscape. Despite a lighter tone than its competitors, its gameplay remains rich and demanding, offering Tecmo impressive results with over 10.76 million copies sold worldwide and more than 25.76 million players if free downloads are included.

Of course, the series embraces fan service, with hyper-sexualized female characters, which has also contributed to its notoriety—and its unapologetic marketing.

The heyday of Ninja Gaiden

In 2004, Itagaki also took on another cult series: Ninja Gaiden. He directed the Xbox opus, Ninja Gaiden Sigma in 2007 on PlayStation 3, Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword in 2008 on Nintendo DS, and then the most cult of them all: Ninja Gaiden II on Xbox 360.

Behind these two franchises lies one studio: Team Ninja. Founded by Itagaki himself in 1995, he ran the company until 2008, when he handed over the reins to Yosuke Hayashi.

A departure from Team Ninja that did not go unnoticed

This decision was motivated by a sexual harassment complaint filed by a former Tecmo employee. She claimed to have been subjected to unwanted advances from Itagaki for several years. He defended himself by insisting that it was a consensual relationship, and the investigation ultimately proved him right.

Nevertheless, despite this conclusion, Tecmo and Team Ninja decided to demote him, accusing him of mixing his private and professional lives. Shortly after his departure, Itagaki founded a new studio: Valhalla Game Studios. There, he developed a new project, Devil’s Third, released in 2015 on Wii U.

This third-person action game received negative reviews, with a Metascore of only 43/100 and a user score of 6.7/10 on Metacritic. It was also a commercial failure, with rumors indicating that only around 3,000 copies were sold in the United States during the first month, although distribution seemed to be very limited. In the United Kingdom, the game didn’t even make it into the top 40 weekly sales.

Years of inactivity in the gaming world, but with an enduring legacy

After this attempt, Itagaki kept a low profile in the gaming world and did not sign any new titles. However, his legacy remains immense, as does his influence on other creators. He appears in the credits of several games in the “Special Thanks” section.

This mention is never insignificant: it is often given to those who have provided personal support to a project, acted as a mentor, inspired a team, or simply as a tribute. His name can be found in Halo 3, Jupiter & Mars, and Wanted: Dead.

Despite his ups and downs, we felt it was essential to pay a final tribute to this important figure in the video game industry. He inspired entire generations and will undoubtedly continue to inspire those to come. This is also the perfect opportunity to dust off Dead or Alive for one last battle or to revisit Ninja Gaiden, the main series of which now boasts a fourth installment.

Numerous tributes around the world

Although his separation from Team Ninja was turbulent, the studio still paid tribute to him on social media with the following message:

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Team NINJA’s founding director, Tomonobu Itagaki. We will carry on the philosophy and creativity pioneered by Mr. Itagaki and continue to create games that will appeal to many players.”

These words were echoed by Xbox CEO Phil Spencer, who also wrote:

“A video game legend who had a remarkable impact on the industry. I am grateful for his friendship and for being one of the first to support us in modernizing and creating new franchises. A true creative who contributed enormously to his projects. We continue to play his games and honor him, as his legacy lives on through the games he helped create.”


Experience expert security system installation & low‑voltage services across North & South Carolina with 360 Technology Group — your local, customer‑focused partner for over three decades.

Author: 360 Technology Group

Related Story