Despite news of Itagaki Games shut down, the developer confirms that they will continue to work on game development.
Dead or Alive, Ninja Gaiden, these series were made by one guy. Did you know that he even created his own game studio? Tomonobu Itagaki, the legendary game developer behind these iconic series, founded Itagaki Games LLC in 2021. The studio aimed to develop cutting-edge games for platforms like the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC. But in a surprising turn, news reports say that Itagaki Games has shut down.
The Start and what Lead to the Itagaki Games Shut Down
When Itagaki Games LLC launched, fans anticipated something big. With Itagaki’s reputation for creating action-packed games, the gaming community expected great things from his new venture. Sadly, the studio never released a single title. Despite the promise and excitement, Itagaki Games stayed silent, which left many wondering about its progress.
On October 7, 2024, Japan’s government gazette published a notice confirming that Itagaki Games had shut down. This notice ended any plans the studio might have had. The company invited claimants to file within two months, effectively closing the chapter on this once-hopeful venture.
Further Developments Of What Happened
There’s more to the story. According to Gamebiz.jp, Tomonobu Itagaki dissolved Itagaki Games LLC but isn’t stepping away from game development entirely. He renamed his other company, Itagaki Productions, to Itagaki Games Co., Ltd., and also listed their business objectives.
What does this mean for fans? Well, Itagaki still plans to make games, just under a new name. By merging Itagaki Production with Itagaki Games, he seems to want to simplify his business operations. Instead of completely giving up, this shift might help him focus his resources and get closer to finally releasing a game.
The Future of Itagaki Games
Even though Itagaki Games LLC is no more, there’s still a glimmer of hope. Unlike the Roblox Hindenburg Allegations that caused Roblox’s stocks to fall, which is super serious, Itagaki’s renamed company, Itagaki Games Inc., continues to operate. It might take on the same ambitious goals, but with the lessons learned from the past few years. Consolidation could mean a fresh start, with a more focused and manageable approach to game development.
Itagaki has proven his talents with action-packed titles in the past, and fans remain hopeful that he can pull off another hit. The decision to rename Itagaki Production Inc. to Itagaki Games Inc. implies that Tomonobu Itagaki isn’t done yet, despite the Itagaki Games shut down. Perhaps this new direction is what’s needed for a successful comeback.
Looking at a Legendary Game Developer's Legacy
The Dead or Alive series and the 2004 Ninja Gaiden franchise revival are the two most well-known works by Japanese video game designer Tomonobu Itagaki. He was selected to be among the list of top 100 game developers of all time by IGN in 2009. With these accolades, Tomonobu remains a legend despite news of the Itagaki Games shut down.
Itagaki joined Tecmo in 1992 and went on to build two successful video game series, earning him multiple promotions. Being such an iconic game developer, he was tasked to oversee Tecmo’s development team, Team Ninja, and he was even a part of the executive board. After 16 long years of employment, he quit the company and sued it for failing to pay him his bonuses.
With a newfound passion, Itagaki established Valhalla Game Studios (several Team Ninja colleagues joined him to create the game studio) and developed the 2015 action-adventure game, Devil’s Third. The company was disbanded in December 2021, and he has since founded a new one, Itagaki Games, which has not shut down.
Oh, and this is something that not everyone might know about Itagaki, but his last work is actually a retelling of a hit Cartoon Network and Adult Swim show. He and his team created Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time which scored 4.5 stars on Steam, 8/10 stars on IGN, and a 7.6 user score on Metacritic. These are quite impressive numbers that show a lot of Samurai Jack fans and gamers liked the game.
Itagaki Games And Other Game Studios' Fate
Itagaki Games shut down is just one example of how complex and risky the game development landscape can be, even for seasoned developers. Not only recently we’ve been hit with news like Concord, an anticipated shooter under development for PlayStation, recently experienced a complete shut down following failed negotiations. Similarly, Annapurna Interactive also faced setbacks with staff resignations.
The gaming community remains curious. Will Itagaki Games now deliver after this move? Only time will tell. But given Itagaki’s history of bold moves, there’s always a chance that something exciting might be just around the corner.
Be sure to read our other news articles to keep up with what’s hot and what’s not in the gaming world. Stay tuned and catch the gaming current with GameEels!
