Hideaki Itsuno, a long-standing and successful designer at Capcom, has bid farewell to the company after more than three decades. His departure raises uncertainties about the future of beloved series such as Devil May Cry and Dragon’s Dogma, particularly the latter, which was shaped by Itsuno’s unique vision for action role-playing games.
Itsuno took to X to announce his departure, stating, “At the end of August 2024, I will be leaving Capcom after 30 years and 5 months. Thank you for your long-term support of the games and characters I have been responsible for. I hope you will continue to support Capcom’s games and characters. From September, I will start developing a new game in a new environment. I hope to create fun, beautiful games that are as memorable as, or even more memorable than, the ones I have created so far. Please stay tuned for my next creation!”
A passionate fighting game enthusiast, Itsuno honed his skills in the genre before branching out into diverse game styles. His portfolio includes leading development on acclaimed titles like Rival Schools and Power Stone. Itsuno’s pivotal role in rescuing Devil May Cry 2 and subsequently directing Devil May Cry 3, 4, 5, as well as overseeing DmC: Devil May Cry, solidified his status as a key figure in the series’ evolution.
During the gap between Devil May Cry installments, Itsuno fulfilled a long-standing ambition by bringing Dragon’s Dogma to life. The game, which blends Western RPG open-world elements with Capcom’s signature action combat and an innovative AI companion system called pawns, initially perplexed players upon its debut in 2012. Nevertheless, its reputation flourished, prompting the development of Dragon’s Dogma 2, which debuted in 2024 to widespread acclaim.
As one of Capcom’s most influential modern creators, Itsuno’s future endeavors are eagerly anticipated by fans and industry observers alike.