Koji Igarashi has been making games for decades and is most well-known for his work on the Castlevania franchise, first acting as assistant director and programmer on the beloved Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, but Konami is now without the famed designer.
Speaking with Polygon, Igarashi said that he'll be stepping out on his own:
I've decided to break out on my own to have the freedom to make the kind of games I really want to make – the same kind I think fans of my past games want as well. Leaving Konami was a big decision, and not one I took lightly – I've spent my entire career there, made many friends, and had a lot of great opportunities – but I hope all the gamers and fans who have supported me in the past will join me in being excited about what comes next. Wish me luck!
Igarashi has been hands-off the Castlevania franchise since developer Mercury Steam started their Lords of Shadow reboot series. While the latest, Lords of Shadow 2, left a lot to be desired the team did try to recapture the kind of Metroidvania magic Igarashi is credited with creating.
Igarashi will be attending GDC and giving a talk about his work on the Castlevania franchise at Konami. We'll do our best to bring you the revelations shared there and more from GDC all week long.
