Koji Igarashi, producer for several Castlevania titles left Konami to start an independent studio on March 15th.
“I’ve decided to break out on my own to have the freedom to make the kind of games I really want to make – the same kind I think fans of my past games want as well,” Igarashi told Polygon, in part. “Leaving Konami was a big decision, and not one I took lightly – I’ve spent my entire career there, made many friends, and had a lot of great opportunities – but I hope all the gamers and fans who have supported me in the past will join me in being excited about what comes next.”
Igarashi will be speaking at this week’s Game Developers Conference in San Francisco at the panel: “There and Back Again: Koji Igarashi’s Metroidvania Tale.” The panel will cover “an exploration of his experiences and methodology in creating some of the most popular and influential games in the genre over the last 15 years.”