Tokyo, Japan — The gaming world is mourning the loss of Tomonobu Itagaki, the visionary creator behind Dead or Alive and the modern revival of Ninja Gaiden. On October 16, 2025, Itagaki died at age 58, confirmed via a pre-written message posted to his official Facebook account, as well as confirmation from his close friend James Mielke. A Final Message, and an Unanswered Question In the post shared on his behalf, Itagaki wrote: “The light of my life is finally fading. … My life has been a series of battles. I kept winning … I have no regrets. However, I’m…