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Gaming Legend Tomonobu Itagaki Dies at 58

10/18/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Tomonobu Itagaki, creator of Dead or Alive and reviver of Ninja Gaiden, died on October 16 at age 58.
Industry figures including Xbox's Aaron Greenberg and Koei Tecmo's Team Ninja offered condolences and highlighted his impact.
Team Ninja plans to honor his legacy with the upcoming release of Ninja Gaiden 4, underscoring commitment to his philosophy.
The tributes underscore his influence on action games and the Ninja Gaiden franchise.

History

Historical Context

Tomonobu Itagaki founded Team Ninja in 1996, creating the successful Dead or Alive series, which helped save Tecmo from bankruptcy. In 2004, he revitalized the action genre with Ninja Gaiden, selling over 1 million copies shortly after release. Itagaki's innovative approach has influenced many developers, and his legacy continues with the upcoming Ninja Gaiden 4, set for release in 2025.

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Story summary

Tomonobu Itagaki, creator of Dead or Alive and reviver of Ninja Gaiden, died on October 16 at age 58.
Industry figures including Xbox's Aaron Greenberg and Koei Tecmo's Team Ninja offered condolences and highlighted his impact.
Team Ninja plans to honor his legacy with the upcoming release of Ninja Gaiden 4, underscoring commitment to his philosophy.
The tributes underscore his influence on action games and the Ninja Gaiden franchise.

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