Castlevania Veteran Koji Igarashi Vows to Finish Making Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement to Honor Deceased Director Shutaro Ida's Vision

IGN

by Wesley Yin-Poole

February 16, 2026

Shutaro Ida has passed away aged 52 after a one-and-a-half year battle against pancreatic cancer. The news was announced by his family via a statement on Ida’s official X account on February 15. Longtime colleague Koji Igarashi has vowed to finish the designer and director’s upcoming metroidvania Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement, the sequel to 2019’s Castlevania-infused Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night.

Verticals

gaming

Originally published on IGN on 2/16/2026