Tomonobu Itagaki Passes Away, Age 58.
Tomonobu Itagaki, the renowned creator of Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden, passed away on October 16, 2025. His final message, posted on Facebook, reflects on his life as filled with battles and pride in his convictions despite causing trouble. He expressed sorrow for not delivering new work to fans and noted he has no regrets. Katsuhiro Harada, Tekken director and longtime rival, shared his feelings on Twitter. The cause of Itagaki's passing remains unknown.