Key Takeaways
1. Hideaki Itsuno has left Capcom after 30 years, focusing on creating a new AAA title instead of continuing established franchises.
2. At 55, Itsuno views this as his “last chance” to explore new concepts, feeling limited by Capcom’s focus on existing IPs.
3. He has joined Tencent’s Lightspeed Studios to develop a cross-platform AAA game, with a team that includes former Capcom staff.
4. Itsuno aims to manage costs and timelines carefully while creating a unique gaming experience, inspired by recent successful titles.
5. His departure raises questions about the future of the Devil May Cry series and whether his new project will compete with it.
Hideaki Itsuno has made the decision to part ways with Capcom after thirty years of leading major franchises such as Devil May Cry and Dragon’s Dogma. His departure came after the launch of Dragon’s Dogma 2 last year.
Reasons for Departure
In a talk with VGC, Itsuno shed light on the reasons for his exit from Capcom, mainly linking it to his age. At 55, he sees this moment as a “last chance” to craft a brand-new AAA title, rather than just building on already successful franchises.
With Capcom currently focused on revitalizing established IPs like Resident Evil and Street Fighter, there was not much opportunity for Itsuno to explore new concepts, despite the company’s remarkable successes over the past ten years.
Pursuing New Challenges
Itsuno felt the need for a new beginning or a fresh challenge, believing he had already fulfilled his vision with the release of Devil May Cry 5 in 2019 and the successful launch of Dragon’s Dogma 2 in 2024. “With Devil May Cry 5 and Dragon’s Dogma 2, I already did what I wanted to make,” he remarked.
He pointed out that if he continued at Capcom, he would likely find himself working on yet another Devil May Cry game without even realizing it. While he did show some interest in future sequels, he felt it wouldn’t bring the same satisfaction as creating something entirely new.
New Ventures
Currently, Itsuno has joined Tencent’s Lightspeed Studios as a lead, where he has formed a team to develop a cross-platform AAA game. Recently, Lightspeed Studios expanded by launching a second office in Osaka, which is the hometown of Capcom.
The studio is home to 40 employees, with one-third of them being former Capcom staff, including Toshihiro Nakagawa, a writer for Devil May Cry who has collaborated with Itsuno since Devil May Cry 2. Also joining the team is character designer Daigo Ikeno, who has worked on both Devil May Cry and Street Fighter, alongside the legendary illustrator Bengus from Capcom.
A Thoughtful Approach
Itsuno is taking a careful approach in developing his new AAA game, ensuring that costs do not spiral and that project timelines are adhered to. He mentioned being influenced by recent standout titles like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, in contrast to the Souls-like games that have been flooding the market recently.
The director is eager to deliver a unique experience that doesn’t simply follow the formula of any existing blockbuster video games. It remains to be seen if his new project will directly compete with future releases in the Devil May Cry series.
Source:
Link
Leave a Reply