Hideaki Itsuno, who directed many beloved titles from well-known franchises such as Devil May Cry, Dragon’s Dogma, and Capcom vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millennium 2001, has announced his departure from Capcom. After 30 years, he’s moving on from the company to make games in a new environment.
Itsuno made the announcement on Twitter. Fans are both absolutely devastated that he’s leaving and excited for what the future holds. His post explains how he’s not leaving the games industry but moving on to “start developing a new game in a new environment.” His hope is to create games that are just as memorable, if not more so, than some of the titles he’s worked on throughout his career. The last game that he directed and shipped at Capcom was the phenomenal Dragon’s Dogma 2.
Thank you Hideaki Itsuno
Ever since he was asked to direct Devil May Cry 2, Itsuno has directed every game in the franchise. I remember Devil May Cry 3 and Devil May Cry 4 being two of the best games of their generations, making a splash even with those who’d never played the series. Fans of the franchise and those who Itsuno’s games have impacted over the years have replied to him on Twitter to wish him well and express what they feel is a huge loss to Capcom.
User PTSDbag sums up fans’ feelings incredibly well in one comment. “This is devastating. I was hoping for Devil May Cry 6 with you at the helm. However, your work at Capcom is responsible for creating work that guided me through some of the toughest years of my life and I’m very grateful for you.”
While Itsuno has worked on some of the biggest video game franchises, he got his start at Capcom as a planner on Quiz & Dragons: Capcom Quiz Game, a title that combined roleplaying, tabletop board game simulation, and a quiz.
The games that stand out from the many he’s worked on aren’t the Devil May Cry entries, though. While it’s only a special thanks, Itsuno is mentioned in the credits for the Resident Evil Outbreak series. Two games that I adore and am incredibly thankful to everyone who worked on them that they exist at all. He obviously had a positive influence in order to warrant thanks.
The fact that Itsuno is moving on from Capcom shows that he wants something new from his career. He still wants to make games, but for whatever reason, he wants to do it elsewhere. Whether that’s achieved by him founding a brand-new indie studio or working with an already established one remains to be seen.
I think everyone completely understands that what Itsuno might need is something fresh and new. Sometimes, the challenge of starting all over again yields the greatest results, and the chance to prove yourself from scratch is both terrifying and exhilarating. We wish Itsuno the best of luck in whatever he has planned.
Published: Aug 31, 2024 11:37 am