Shutaro Iida Veteran Developer Castlevania Programmer Passes Away

The gaming industry is mourning the loss of a silent titan. Shutaro Iida, a veteran developer whose technical brilliance and creative vision helped define the “Vavania” subgenre, passed away on February 10, 2026, at the age of 52.

His family and his long-time collaborator, Koji Igarashi, confirmed that Iida died following a courageous year-and-a-half battle with pancreatic cancer. Known affectionately by fans and colleagues as “Curry Sage” or “Curry the Kid,” Iida leaves behind a legacy that spans from the hallowed halls of Dracula’s Castle to the spiritual rebirth of the genre in Bloodstained.

A Legacy Written in Code

Shutaro Iida’s career began at Konami in 1996, but it was in the early 2000s that he became an indispensable pillar of the Castlevania franchise. While Koji Igarashi was the public face of the series, Iida was the mechanical architect.

• The GBA & DS Golden Era: Iida served as a lead programmer and designer on the titles many fans consider the pinnacle of handheld gaming: Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, Dawn of Sorrow, Portrait of Ruin, and Order of Ecclesia.

• A Precise Touch: He was renowned for his work on enemy AI and player physics. If a jump felt perfect or a boss fight felt rewarding, it was likely due to Iida’s meticulous programming.

• Beyond the Castle: His talents weren’t limited to whip-cracking action. He also served as a lead programmer on Kojima Productions’ Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes and The Phantom Pain, contributing to the technical “magic” that made those games industry benchmarks.

The Jump to ArtPlay and Bloodstained

When Igarashi left Konami to pursue a spiritual successor to Castlevania, Iida was the first person he called. Iida took on the role of Director for Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night.

The game’s massive success on Kickstarter and its critical acclaim upon release were a testament to Iida’s ability to modernize the classic Metroidvania formula while staying true to its roots. Before his diagnosis, he was actively directing the upcoming sequel, Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement, and a prequel planned for 2026.

A Final Message to Fans

In a heartbreaking message he posted just  11 days before his passing, Iida shared a final message with the community:

“It seems that the limit is near. I can feel myself growing weaker day by day. Please love Bloodstained 2, which will be released in the future, and the games that I made.”

Koji Igarashi released a moving tribute, stating:

“It would not be an exaggeration to say that many of the titles hailed as masterpieces could not have been achieved without his contributions. His talent was unparalleled… He was a person who always thought about games and approached production with a passion that burned like his very life.”

Carrying the Torch

ArtPlay has confirmed that they intend to complete Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement with the utmost care, treating it as a “precious work infused with his spirit” to ensure his final vision reaches the fans he loved.

While the “Curry Sage” has finished his adventure in this world, his work remains, preserved in the tight controls, hidden secrets, and sprawling maps of the games that defined a generation.