“I have what it takes to continue this series’ legacy” Hideaki Itsuno may have left Capcom, but Dragon’s Dogma 2’s new director reckons the RPG is still in good hands
Legendary Capcom developer Hideaki Itsuno, who shaped the Dragon’s Dogma franchise for over a decade, departed the Japanese publisher in August 2024 after spending more than 30 years at the company. Itsuno, best known for creating the original Dragon’s Dogma and championing the acclaimed Devil May Cry series, originally conceived the Dragon’s Dogma concept during his work on Devil May Cry in the early 2000s. Despite resource constraints at the time, he fought to secure the budget and development time needed to bring his vision to life.
With Itsuno’s exit, Dragon’s Dogma 2’s new director has stepped into the role to lead the franchise’s future. In comments addressing the leadership transition, the incoming director expressed confidence in their ability to continue the series’ legacy, stating they possess “what it takes” to maintain the standards Itsuno established.
Capcom has sought to mitigate concerns about the directorial change by emphasizing its organizational structure. The publisher noted that it has “always structured [itself] so that [they] aren’t absolutely reliant on a single person or a single creator,” suggesting the company has systems in place to ensure continuity even when key personnel depart. This reflects a broader industry challenge: maintaining creative vision and quality across franchise leadership changes while retaining institutional knowledge.
The transition marks a significant moment for Dragon’s Dogma 2, which launched in 2024. While Itsuno’s departure represents the end of an era in the franchise’s development, the new director’s stated commitment to honoring the series’ heritage may reassure fans concerned about the creative direction ahead.