Sad news for action gaming and 3D fighting game fans: renowned and controversial creator and game director Tomonobu Itagaki passed away on Oct 16. He was 58.
Itagaki began his career at Tecmo in 1992, before its merger with Koei, and went on to lead the company’s famed development team, Team Ninja, for 16 years. His early work included the Super Famicom version of Tecmo Super Bowl, a popular football game at the time.
In 1996, he shot to fame with the creation of the Dead or Alive series – a pioneering 3D fighting franchise celebrated for its fluid animation, intuitive controls, universal counter system, destructible environments, and, of course, its gravity-defying female fighters.
He later directed the 2004 reboot of Ninja Gaiden for the original Xbox – a brutal, fast-paced action masterpiece lauded for its punishing difficulty and stylish combat.
Beyond his games, Itagaki was known for his ‘rock star’ persona – blunt, fearless, and unfiltered. He relished criticism, treating it as fuel for improvement, and was never shy about expressing his views on rival titles, particularly Tekken. What began as a fierce rivalry eventually mellowed, and by 2008, he and Tekken producer Katsuhiro “Don’t Ask Me For S***” Harada had reconciled.
Rest in peace, Tomonobu Itagaki. The games industry is a little less bright without you. Thank you for the games, the memories, and the unforgettable interviews.
Short Beats
· Dead Space and Call of Duty co-creator Glen Schofield revealed during his Gamescom Asia 2025 keynote that he has been experimenting with generative AI for two years. He believes it could help ‘fix’ the games industry by training and educating developers – and hinted that he has ideas for a Dead Space 4.
· Quantic Dream announced its first-ever multiplayer strategy action game, Spellcasters Chronicles, featuring 3-versus-3 gameplay.
· Mortal Kombat and NetherRealm Studios’ sound director Dan “Toasty” Forden has retired after 37 years in the industry.
· Square Enix unveiled Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy, a new mobile 3-versus-3 action title set in modern-day Tokyo, featuring beloved Final Fantasy characters.
· Battlefield 6 sold seven million copies within three days of its early October release – with 172 million online matches played and over 15 million viewing hours on Twitch.
· Ghost of Yotei, a PlayStation 5 exclusive action-adventure, sold 146,972 copies in Japan during its launch week. Its predecessor, Ghost of Tsushima, sold 212,915 copies at launch in 2020. Sales figures for Southeast Asia have yet to be announced.
Op-Ed
To celebrate this year’s Deepavali, here’s a look at some of the most memorable Indian heroes and heroines in video games.
Games Out This Week
· Ball X Pit – The latest arcade-style release from Devolver Digital and Kenny Sun & Friends. Players blast obstacles by shooting balls instead of bullets while descending through scrolling stages. Available on PC and consoles.
· Just Dance 2026 Edition – Ubisoft’s ever-popular rhythm game returns for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series consoles. The new tracklist includes “All Star” by Smash Mouth, “Zombieboy” by Lady Gaga, and “Apt.” by Rose and Bruno Mars.
· Pokémon Legends: Z-A – The newest action RPG from Game Freak and Nintendo introduces real-time combat, allowing Pokémon to move, dodge, and attack dynamically during battles.
· Keeper – A puzzle-adventure title from Double Fine Productions for PC and Xbox. Players control a sentient lighthouse journeying across surreal realms, accompanied by a loyal seabird companion.
Recommended Viewing
Catch the Gamescom Asia 2025 livestreams and Primetime intro segment.
