The gaming industry is mourning the loss of Shutaro Iida, a veteran developer renowned for his influential work on the Castlevania and Bloodstained franchises.
On February 10, 2026, Iida passed away after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.
He was 52 years old.
Iida’s remarkable career includes key roles on numerous Konami classics, and his unmatched dedication has left a lasting imprint on players and fellow developers alike.
Shutaro Iida began his professional journey at Konami in 1996, quickly establishing himself as an integral figure in the company’s development team.
Over nearly two decades at Konami, he contributed to the programming and creative direction of some of the most celebrated titles in the Castlevania series, including directing Castlevania: Harmony of Despair.
His leadership extended to the critically acclaimed Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, where he played a pivotal role as director, working closely with longtime collaborator Koji Igarashi. In September 2024, Iida was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Despite the challenges of his illness, Iida remained committed to his craft, continuing to work on Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement—an eagerly anticipated sequel for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, and PC platforms.
His unwavering spirit and devotion to gaming were evident in one of his final public messages posted to his X (formerly Twitter) account, where he wrote, "I am approaching my limit and feel myself growing weaker day by day, but I hope you will embrace the upcoming Bloodstained 2 and all the games I have created." Following Iida’s passing, Koji Igarashi, longtime steward of the Castlevania franchise and creative lead on Bloodstained, paid tribute on social media.
Igarashi stated that while it is deeply saddening to lose such a close collaborator, there is some comfort in knowing Iida is no longer in pain, after fighting bravely for so long.
"I hope you can finally rest,” Igarashi wrote, pledging to devote his full passion to completing Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement in Iida’s honor. Shutaro Iida’s legacy spans a generation of gamers who discovered Castlevania and Bloodstained on a multitude of hardware platforms, including the Nintendo Switch and through digital storefronts like the eShop.
His influence helped shape modern action platformers and inspired countless developers and fans.
As the community reflects on his remarkable achievements, Iida’s final contributions—especially the upcoming Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement—stand as a testament to his creative vision and enduring impact on the gaming world. Fans can continue to celebrate Shutaro Iida’s work by exploring his games and anticipating the release of Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement, which promises to carry forward his passion and expertise into the next generation of gaming.
On February 10, 2026, Iida passed away after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.
He was 52 years old.
Iida’s remarkable career includes key roles on numerous Konami classics, and his unmatched dedication has left a lasting imprint on players and fellow developers alike.
Shutaro Iida began his professional journey at Konami in 1996, quickly establishing himself as an integral figure in the company’s development team.
Over nearly two decades at Konami, he contributed to the programming and creative direction of some of the most celebrated titles in the Castlevania series, including directing Castlevania: Harmony of Despair.
His leadership extended to the critically acclaimed Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, where he played a pivotal role as director, working closely with longtime collaborator Koji Igarashi. In September 2024, Iida was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Despite the challenges of his illness, Iida remained committed to his craft, continuing to work on Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement—an eagerly anticipated sequel for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, and PC platforms.
His unwavering spirit and devotion to gaming were evident in one of his final public messages posted to his X (formerly Twitter) account, where he wrote, "I am approaching my limit and feel myself growing weaker day by day, but I hope you will embrace the upcoming Bloodstained 2 and all the games I have created." Following Iida’s passing, Koji Igarashi, longtime steward of the Castlevania franchise and creative lead on Bloodstained, paid tribute on social media.
Igarashi stated that while it is deeply saddening to lose such a close collaborator, there is some comfort in knowing Iida is no longer in pain, after fighting bravely for so long.
"I hope you can finally rest,” Igarashi wrote, pledging to devote his full passion to completing Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement in Iida’s honor. Shutaro Iida’s legacy spans a generation of gamers who discovered Castlevania and Bloodstained on a multitude of hardware platforms, including the Nintendo Switch and through digital storefronts like the eShop.
His influence helped shape modern action platformers and inspired countless developers and fans.
As the community reflects on his remarkable achievements, Iida’s final contributions—especially the upcoming Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement—stand as a testament to his creative vision and enduring impact on the gaming world. Fans can continue to celebrate Shutaro Iida’s work by exploring his games and anticipating the release of Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement, which promises to carry forward his passion and expertise into the next generation of gaming.
