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"

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Most recently, the developer worked on Bloodtained and its sequel

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
(Image credit: 505 Games)

Shutaro Iida, a longtime Castlevania legend and developer with a plethora of titles under his belt, has passed away at the age of 52 after a nearly two-year-long battle with cancer.

Iida, who was most recently working on Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night sequel The Scarlet Engagement, first announced that he had been diagnosed with cancer in 2024 in an online post, explaining that he would be stepping away from game development to focus on his health.

Earlier today, his family took to his account to share that he had died on February 10 due to the illness, expressing gratitude for the kindness he had been shown.

"In the early hours of Tuesday, February 10, 2026, our Creative Director, Shutaro, passed away peacefully after battling cancer for approximately one and a half years," writes the dev.

"Our first project together was Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow. It is no exaggeration to say that numerous titles hailed as masterpieces would not have been possible without his contributions. His talent was truly exceptional."

Igarashi goes on to say that he's "profoundly grateful" Iida accepted his invitation to join him on the development of Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, with the 2019 gem's success only "made possible by his tremendous support," as he puts it.

"Looking back, he supported me for over twenty years. He was someone who constantly thought about games, approaching development as if it were burning his life away."

The dev hopes that Iida is now at rest. "When it was discovered that he had a terminal cancer in September 2024, it came as a tremendous shock. The subsequent year and a half of battling the illness must have been unimaginably harsh. His passing is profoundly regrettable, yet knowing he is now free from suffering brings a sense of relief. Having run at full speed all this time, I hope he can now rest peacefully."

As for the Bloodstained sequel, Igarashi confirms it's still underway – and still carries Iida's influence.

"The game he was working on, Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement, is currently in development. It is a precious work imbued with his vision. We shall carry forward his aspirations and see the game through to completion, determined not to disappoint him. We ask for your continued support and encouragement, now more than ever."

The statement ends with Igarashi's "deepest condolences" to Iida's family, with various replies expressing love for both developers. May Shutaro Iida rest in peace.

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Anna Koselke
Anna Koselke
Staff Writer

After spending years with her head in various fantastical realms' clouds, Anna studied English Literature and then Medieval History at the University of Edinburgh, going on to specialize in narrative design and video game journalism as a writer. She has written for various publications since her postgraduate studies, including Dexerto, Fanbyte, GameSpot, IGN, PCGamesN, and more. When she's not frantically trying to form words into coherent sentences, she's probably daydreaming about becoming a fairy druid and befriending every animal or she's spending a thousand (more) hours traversing the Underdark in Baldur's Gate 3. If you spot her away from her PC, you'll always find Anna with a fantasy book, a handheld video game console of some sort, and a Tamagotchi or two on hand.

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