Who Is Hideaki Itsuno? Age, Biography and Wiki
Hideaki Itsuno, born on August 25, 1970, is a celebrated Japanese video game designer and director known for his influential work in the gaming industry. With a career spanning over three decades, Itsuno is most famous for leading the development of the critically acclaimed Devil May Cry series and other popular titles such as Dragon's Dogma. At the age of 54 in 2025, Itsuno continues to be a vital force in game design, contributing to innovative gameplay mechanics and storytelling in the industry.
| Occupation | Game Designer |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | August 25, 1970 |
| Age | 55 Years |
| Birth Place | Osaka, Japan |
| Horoscope | Virgo |
| Country | Japan |
Popularity
Hideaki Itsuno's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While specific figures for Hideaki Itsuno's height and weight are not publicly documented, it is known that he maintains a relatively average physique typical for someone of his nationality and age. Details about his body measurements are usually kept private, as is common for many celebrities focusing on their craft rather than their public image.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status (Boyfriend/Girlfriend/Husband/Wife)
Hideaki Itsuno tends to keep his personal life away from the spotlight. As of 2025, there have been no confirmed reports regarding his romantic relationships or if he is currently dating anyone. He appears to prioritize his work and career over public relationships, and information about his family remains limited.
Net Worth and Salary
Hideaki Itsuno's net worth is estimated to be in the range of $5 million to $10 million as of 2025, a testament to his years of hard work and success in the video game industry. His earnings stem from his salary as a lead designer and director at Capcom, a company known for producing numerous successful game franchises. Additionally, royalties from game sales significantly contribute to his overall wealth, particularly from the Devil May Cry and Dragon's Dogma franchises.
Career, Business and Investments
Itsuno began his career in the video game industry in the late 1990s, working on various projects at Capcom. He gained fame as the director and producer for multiple entries in the Devil May Cry series, showcasing his talent for creating engaging narratives and thrilling combat systems. In addition to Devil May Cry, he also played a pivotal role in developing Dragon's Dogma, which received acclaim for its open-world design.
In recent years, Itsuno has been involved in exciting new projects, likely hinting at forthcoming titles that continue to push the boundaries of video gaming. As an influential figure, he may also invest in technology and gaming startups, although specific details remain private.
Hideaki Itsuno was a fighting game fan who was hired by Capcom in 1994; his entrance exam happened the same day as the Super Street Fighter II Turbo location test. He went for it over other companies because it would be an easy commute.
There, he was assigned work as a designer on their arcade division (which by 1997 had been reorganized as Production Studio 1), starting with two quiz games.
In that first year at the company, a project for a Street Fighter prequel was brewing; Itsuno's superior Noritaka Funamizu saw there was no designer attached, and asked him to take that role in December.
Other members of that team came from the same background, all gathered so Street Fighter Alpha had a broader appeal and captured the audience drawn to SNK fighters.
Social Network
Hideaki Itsuno is not highly active on social media. His presence is primarily felt through industry events and gaming conferences rather than through online platforms. However, he maintains a professional profile that allows fans and followers to keep track of his work and contributions to the gaming world.
His first director job was on another fighter, Star Gladiator, a project he entered halfway through to fulfill a desire: "at the time I wanted to make that kind of game with a large scale cabinet, because Capcom had never done anything like that before. That's why I joined the company".
Due to visual effects and hardware constraints, that game runs at 30 frames per second, to Itsuno's chagrin: "At 30fps, I feel you can't have a real competitive fighting game, so I wanted to make a linear fighting game with 60fps in mind".
Driven to make a 60fps polygon-based fighting game, he conceived an original project with wide appeal—driven so partly by a more story-heavy approach and the inclusion of role-playing elements—which became Rival Schools: United By Fate.
Education
While detailed information about Hideaki Itsuno's education is not readily available, it is common for successful game designers to have backgrounds in fields such as computer science, graphic design, or art. Given his accomplishments, it is likely that he possesses a strong foundation in game design principles and skills that have contributed to his successful career.
Itsuno later directed Dragon's Dogma. During the press conference at Capcom's Captivate event in 2011, he called it a game he had been dreaming of making since his school days, which could be finally realized due to technological advancements.
At the time of the press conference, he had been directing a staff of 150 people at Capcom Japan for three years of concept and project development. In the process, the team developed techniques that allow the feel of playing in 60fps on a 30fps game.
