Castlevania programmer & Bloodstained director Shutaro Iida passed away at 52 years old on February 10
Shutaro Iida, the Japanese game creator best known as the programmer behind several Castlevania entries and the director for the Bloodstained series, had passed away on February 10, 2026, at 52 years old due to pancreatic cancer. Following a week of private mourning, the surviving family made the news public together with Koji "IGA" Igarashi.
Shutaro's career was best defined during his tenure at Konami as a programmer, with his first title being Sexy Parodius for PlayStation and Saturn in 1996, and the latest being the 2015 releases of Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes and The Phantom Pain.
He also notably worked on several Castlevania titles throughout the 2000s. Other than the PS2 entry Lament of Innocence and the Xbox 360 title Harmony of Despair, Shutaro also worked on the 2003 GBA title Aria of Sorrow—included in the Castlevania Advance Collection, as well as the DS entries Dawn of Sorrow, Portrait of Ruin, and Order of Ecclesia—all of which are now available via the Castlevania Dominus Collection.
After leaving Konami, Shutaro joined IGA at ArtPlay to work on the Kickstarter-funded Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night as its director. ArtPlay is currently working on the new sequel, Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement, which is slated for release in 2026. However, Shutaro and IGA's aspiration messages at the end of 2025 hinted at how Shutaro was struggling with his illness. In the final personal tweet Shutaro posted last month on January 30, he noted how his condition was already deteriorating further. Following the passing of Shutaro, IGA declared that The Scarlet Engagement's development will be completed in his honor.
In addition to social media, IGA has also published an official announcement on ArtPlay's official website. An official English version of the announcement is also available, and you can find its copy right below.
Announcement of the passing of SHUTARO, Creative Director at ArtPlay
Early morning on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, our Creative Director SHUTARO passed away at the age of 52 after battling against cancer for approximately one and a half years.
SHUTARO has contributed significantly to the development of the gaming industry through the creation of numerous works. His passing is deeply regrettable, especially given the great promise of his future endeavors.
I express my deepest gratitude for the kindness of all of his fans during his lifetime and respectfully announce his passing.
The funeral was conducted only with close family members in accordance with the wishes of the bereaved family.
The development of Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement, which SHUTARO was leading, is now at its final stages. We will carry forward his legacy and strive with all our strength to complete this work worthy of his vision and name.
We must respectfully decline any condolence visits, monetary gifts, floral tributes, or sympathy visiting to our company or his family. We deeply appreciate your understanding in this matter.
February 16, 2026
Koji Igarashi
Co-founder / ArtPlay Inc