Capcom’s global head of production and Mega Man mastermind Keiji Inafune has announced that he will be departing the Japanese giant at the end of the month.
Speaking on his blog, the Dead Rising producer expressed his desire to move on to pastures new as he wasn’t keen on merely settling down, observing that doing so would effectively be the final nail in the coffin from a game developer’s point of view.
“It would probably be good for me to sit gracefully in this seat and become a leading figure in the industry," he wrote. ("However, I cannot do this. Settling down means death for a creator. As long as you are a creator, you cannot settle down."
And, despite previously letting slip that he disliked his job as of late and wanted to retire early, Inafune had nothing but praise to offer upon reflecting on his 23 years with the industry giant, commenting:
"Capcom is truly a good company," adding, "I love Capcom. Probably more than anyone in the world. However, it’s not always the case that your hopes are realized. Just as it was with the girlfriend I loved long ago.”
"There was a chance that I could continue to be Capcom’s power. I bet on that chance until the end. The means of both Capcom and myself to be happy. That was surely possible. However, now that chance is completely closed off."
Having said that, Inafune indicated that it was unlikely he would be up for working with the company again in the future: "Capcom must, from here on out, walk without Inafune. I too can not depend on Capcom," he said.
Inafune has been fairly outspoken in recent months on his views in regards to the Japanese videogames industry, labelling it as some five years behind that of Western efforts.