From Capcom to Tencent

Hideaki Itsuno, best known for directing Devil May Cry 5 and Dragon’s Dogma 2, shocked the industry when he left Capcom in August 2024 to establish Tencent’s LightSpeed Japan Studio. Now, in his latest announcement, Itsuno has confirmed he is bringing several other Capcom veterans along with him.

LightSpeed Expands to Osaka

Alongside this recruitment push, Itsuno revealed that LightSpeed Japan has opened a new branch in Osaka, complementing its original Tokyo office. The move signals Tencent’s growing ambition in Japan, with Itsuno positioned as a key figure leading the charge on a new AAA action game.

Currently, LightSpeed Japan employs around 40 staff members, and the studio continues to expand by posting new job openings for multiple disciplines.

Veteran Developers Join the Team

Among the high-profile recruits are three names well known to Capcom fans:

Bingo Morihashi – Scenario writer for Devil May Cry and Dragon’s Dogma, now serving as Narrative Lead.
Daigo Ikeno – Character Designer with credits on Street Fighter III, Devil May Cry 2–5, and Street Fighter IV, now stepping in as Art Director.
Gouda “Bengus” Cheese – Celebrated 2D character designer for Darkstalkers and Marvel vs Capcom, joining as Art Designer.

Itsuno highlighted that these veterans will be instrumental in shaping the studio’s original project, though no gameplay or story details have yet been revealed.

Building Towards a New AAA Action Game

With Itsuno’s leadership and the addition of these industry heavyweights, LightSpeed Japan is positioning itself as a studio to watch. While Tencent has remained quiet on specifics, expectations are rising that Itsuno’s team could deliver a project rivalling the scale and impact of his earlier Capcom works.

For now, fans will need to wait for more details — but the move underscores Tencent’s determination to invest heavily in Japanese talent and expand its footprint in the global AAA gaming scene.