Hideaki Itsuno’s Next Move: From Capcom Legend to AAA Trailblazer

After more than three decades at Capcom, Devil May Cry and Dragon’s Dogma mastermind Hideaki Itsuno has set off on a new adventure—one that doesn’t involve stylish demon slaying or dragon hunting (at least, not yet). Now leading Tencent’s LightSpeed Japan Studio, Itsuno has revealed that his next project is—you guessed it—another AAA action game, but with a distinctly Japanese twist.

Speaking at the Game Developers Conference, Itsuno shared that he’s once again aiming to create something unique, much like his past works. Which, if history tells us anything, means we’re in for yet another stylishly executed, genre-defining experience.

LightSpeed Studios doubled down on that promise, stating that Itsuno’s years of crafting classics—from Power Stone to Devil May Cry 3, 4, and 5, and Dragon’s Dogma 1 and 2—will serve as the foundation for this new venture. Their goal? A studio that blends cultural diversity with cutting-edge tech to create something truly groundbreaking. Or, in Itsuno’s own words: “the kind of innovations that make players say, ‘I’ve never seen that in a game before.’”

His latest release, Dragon’s Dogma 2, has already been hailed as “the most vital action RPG since Elden Ring.” So, no pressure, right?

Reflecting on this new chapter, Itsuno previously stated that joining LightSpeed is a thrilling next step. With the studio’s global reach and technical prowess, he’s eager to build original AAA action titles and deliver fresh, innovative experiences to players worldwide.

While details on the project are scarce, one thing is certain: when a man like Itsuno promises something new and exciting, you pay attention.