Hideaki Itsuno, a renowned video game director and designer, departed from Capcom last year after a distinguished three-decade career, during which he oversaw numerous franchises like Devil May Cry. He recently disclosed that a key factor in his departure was a desire to avoid repeatedly developing the same game series.
Itsuno explained to VGC that Lightspeed`s compelling offer to create a new AAA title presented a unique and irresistible opportunity, viewing it as his “last chance” to take on a significant new challenge.
He elaborated on his decision, stating, “For Capcom, developing sequels for Devil May Cry and Dragon`s Dogma is paramount. Considering a game takes four or five years to develop, this might be my final significant opportunity. Before you know it, you find yourself working on Devil May Cry 6 or 7. While I wouldn`t mind making them, balancing the development time with personal creative satisfaction becomes challenging. With Devil May Cry 5 and Dragon`s Dogma 2, I`ve already realized my creative aspirations for those series.”
While Itsuno kept details about his Lightspeed project under wraps, it was confirmed that several former Capcom developers from the Devil May Cry and Street Fighter teams would join him at Lightspeed`s second studio in Osaka, Japan. This includes prominent figures such as artist Bengus, Devil May Cry writer Toshihiro Nakagawa, and character designer Daigo Ikeno.
Itsuno expressed enthusiasm for his new team, particularly for Toshihiro Nakagawa. “It`s excellent to collaborate with trusted individuals like Mr. Nakagawa,” Itsuno remarked. “We`ve worked together for decades, since Devil May Cry 2, and he`s a core team member who understands my vision deeply. He joined as a freelance scenario writer when I reached out. I`m confident that by combining our creative approaches, we can develop an exceptional game.”
The future of a new Devil May Cry game remains uncertain, but fans can look forward to the second season of the Devil May Cry anime series on Netflix in 2026.