Veteran Dead or Alive director Yohei Shimbori has left Koei Tecmo

Long-time Dead or Alive series director Yohei Shimbori has today left Koei Tecmo.

Shimbori worked on the Team Ninja developed fighting game series for 16 years, beginning as a planner on 2004’s Dead or Alive Ultimate and holding the role of director since 2010’s Dead or Alive Paradise.

“As of today, I have left Koei Tecmo Games,” Shimbori tweeted (translated by Siliconera). “I worked on Dead or Alive for 16 years, and while there were times I was pleased, there were also times I was unable to live up to expectations.

“I would like to take this opportunity to express my utmost gratitude to the many people who have supported and taken care of me. Thank you very much.”

Shimbori’s Dead or Alive credits

Dead or Alive Ultimate (2004) – planner
Dead or Alive 4 (2005) – game designer

Dead or Alive Xtreme 2 (2006) – game designer
Dead or Alive Paradise (2010) – director
Dead or Alive Dimensions (2011) – director
Dead or Alive 5 (2012) – director
Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate (2013) – director
Dead or Alive 5 Last Round (2015) – director
Dead or Alive 6 (2019) – producer and director

Team Ninja head Fumihiko Yasuda said in January that the Nioh and Ninja Gaiden studio would reveal “several” games in 2021.

In February it was announced that a trilogy of Ninja Gaiden remasters will be released for Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One and PC on June 10, 2021 as part of the Master Collection.

Yasuda expressed an interest in tackling an open world game in a VGC interview published in January.