Tecmo’s Itagaki Quits, Sues

Lawsuit Pending, DoA 5 now Dead on Arrival

Tomonobu Itagaki, the mastermind behind the Dead or Alive franchise and the revival of Ninja Gaiden, has quit Tecmo, and is in the process of filing a lawsuit in Japanese courts for unpaid bonuses.  Word of departure comes days before Ninja Gaiden II is set to hit stores here in the US today and shortly after globally.

The suit will seek ¥148 million in damages, the equivalent of about $1.4 million.

In a statement, Mr. Itagaki said:

Before the start of development on Dead or Alive 4, Tecmo Co, Ltd, had agreed to pay a completion bonus to me for this Xbox 360 title, which I produced. However, when the time came for the actual payment, Tecmo Co, Ltd, went against its previous agreement and refused payment. President Yoshimi Yasuda chose not only to violate this agreement, but also turned defiant, telling me ‘if you are dissatisfied with the decision not to pay the bonuses, either quit the company or sue it.’ In addition, he made demeaning remarks about me to my subordinates and colleagues, causing me significant emotional distress and worsening my personal relationships and work environment. Thus, I have no choice but to resign from Tecmo Co, Ltd.

A major casualty of this decision will be the continuation of the Dead or Alive series. Mr. Itagaki commented further on that point in his statement:

I truly feel sorry to all the fans of the games I have made. Ninja Gaiden II, which will launch on the 3rd of June will be the last Ninja Gaiden I will create. I will also never be able to make Dead or Alive 5. I regret the circumstances that have forced me to leave Tecmo, where I had worked for so many years, and I regret the disappointment this will cause my fans.

Mr. Itagaki’s last day is tentatively on July 1.  Stay with TSSZ News for more information on what will be an evolving story, as a major polarizing figure in gaming has called it quits.