← back

Bloodstained director Shutaro Iida dies at 52

Kagi News | 2026-02-16 08:31 UTC | source

🕯️ Game developer Shutaro Iida has died at 52 after battling cancer 124. Time Extension says he had been fighting cancer since 2024 and died on February 10 4.

Iida previously worked at Konami, where he contributed to several Castlevania games, and he is credited on Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain 124.

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night — gamesradar.com

Sources

  1. Bloodstained director Shutaro Ida has sadly passed away at 52 [mynintendonews.com] (2026-02-16)
  2. Castlevania and Metal Gear Solid 5 legend Shutaro Iida has passed away, with tributes saying "numerous titles hailed as masterpieces would not have been possible without his contributions" [gamesradar.com] (2026-02-16)
  3. Castlevania Veteran Koji Igarashi Vows to Finish Making Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement to Honor Deceased Director Shutaro Ida's Vision [reddit.com] (2026-02-16)
  4. "His Talent Was Unparalleled" - Castlevania And Bloodstained Veteran Shutaro Iida Has Lost His Battle With Cancer [timeextension.com] (2026-02-16)
  5. Castlevania & Bloodstained Series Veteran Shūtarō Īda Has Passed Away [reddit.com] (2026-02-16)
  6. "His Talent Was Unparalleled" - Castlevania And Bloodstained Veteran Shutaro Iida Has Lost His Battle With Cancer - Time Extension [google.com] (2026-02-16)

Highlights

  1. Castlevania credits: Time Extension lists Iida’s Castlevania-era credits as including Portrait of Ruin, Order of Ecclesia, Dawn of Sorrow, Aria of Sorrow, and Lament of Innocence 4.
  2. Legacy tributes: Tributes cited by GamesRadar say “numerous titles hailed as masterpieces” depended on Iida’s contributions, underscoring his influence beyond director roles 2.
  3. Bloodstained director roles: MyNintendoNews says Iida directed Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night and the upcoming Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement 1.

Perspectives

Time Extension (reporting): The outlet highlights Iida’s long collaboration with Koji Igarashi, including an Igarashi remark that Iida had supported him for more than 20 years 4.

GamesRadar (tributes): GamesRadar highlights tributes that frame Iida as a key contributor whose work helped make multiple games later regarded as “masterpieces” possible 2.

Timeline

1
2024
Time Extension reports Iida had been battling cancer since 2024 4.
2
February 10
Reports say Iida died at age 52 4.
3
February 16, 2026
Outlets reported his death and career highlights 12.