ArtPlay mourns Shutaro Ida as Bloodstained sequel nears completion
Gamers across the globe are mourning the loss of veteran developer and director of Castlevania, Shutaro Ida. His passing was confirmed by family members who released a statement via his official social media account, stating Ida has passed away on the 10th of February after an eighteen-month-long battle with pancreatic cancer.
Over his 3-decade-long career, which began at Konami as a programmer, Ida also worked closely with Koji Igarashi on Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement, the spiritual successor to the Castlevania series, which is currently in its final stages of production. Igarashi, a close comrade of Ida, has vowed to honor his legacy by ensuring that Bloodstained comes to fruition. Upon taking charge of the project, he emphasized the importance of staying true to Ida’s creative vision.
In 2014, after spending 24 years at Konami, Koji Igarashi left Konami to pursue independent game development and founded ArtPlay Inc., collaborating with former Konami colleagues, including Shutaro Ida, who joined the studio without a moment's hesitation.
With the gaming community eagerly awaiting news on the development of the latest installment of the Bloodstained series, Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement, fans can rest assured that the project is in the safest hands as can be. Igarashi’s dedication and his motivation to honor his fallen colleague reiterated the studio’s commitment to deliver an experience worthy of Ida’s creative philosophy.
Ida’s influence went far beyond the projects he worked on, encompassing multiple aspects of multiple titles. During his time at Konami, his technical expertise was instrumental to projects he worked on, such as MGS:5 Ground Zeroes and the port of Castlevania to newer-generation consoles. Colleagues working with him recall his passion and intensity for his work. Igarashi remembered him as the kind of person who “always thought about games,” often overcoming difficult technical hurdles with dedication and hard work, an inspiration to the rest of the team. This mindset and attitude are often cited as one of the most important reasons why Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night received such a positive critical reception.
Even during his final days, Ida’s mind was always on the game, feeling that his time was short, his focus was always on the player experience. On the 30th of January, he shared a final message with fans, revealing the health challenges and leaving a final request. “Please love Bloodstained 2 and all the games I made.”
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