Overview

• A prewritten post titled "Last Words" appeared on his Facebook page, reflecting on his life and apologizing to fans for not delivering a new game.
• Team NINJA issued an official tribute, and industry figures including Tekken director Katsuhiro Harada shared condolences.
• No cause of death has been disclosed, though close friend James Mielke said Itagaki had a serious illness that escalated in his final days.
• At Tecmo, he founded and led Team Ninja, created the Dead or Alive series, and directed the 2004 Ninja Gaiden revival and its sequel.
• He left Tecmo in 2008 after a dispute over unpaid bonuses, later founded Valhalla Game Studios and Itagaki Games, and his death comes days before a Ninja Gaiden 4 release he was not involved in.