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Keiji Inafune, long-standing Capcom producer and the famed mind behind the studio’s most prolific character Mega Man, has announced his resignation from the company on his personal blog.
The post, entitled simply "Sayonara", explains the reasons behind Inafune’s decision, due to take effect at the end of the month, and rounds off on a difficult period for the producer as evidenced by a recent expression of unhappiness with his job.
"A manager’s work means evaluating your subordinates and speaking your dreams. Anyone who can do both of those can be a manager. I thought that when I came here, and I still think that now,” Inafune writes.
But Inafune – whose official title at Capcom had been head of R&D management group, consumer games R&D division and contents management division – claimed he did not believe he could achieve both of those goals any more.
Inafune most recently served as executive producer on the zombie-bashing sequel Dead Rising 2, and was set to serve in the same role on Ninja Theory’s already contentious Devil May Cry prequel DmC.
His time at Capcom will almost certainly be best remembered for the creation of the Mega Man franchise back in 1987, when Inafune was working as a character designer for the studio.
Expanding on the reasons for his decision, and his plans for the future, Inafune seems keen for a fresh start in his life.
"There’s nowhere higher for me to go,” he writes
"I’m leaving Capcom with the intention of starting my life over. People that really know me, can see where I’m coming from. I’m not a regular dude. It’s probably because I’m strange."
Inafune states he will not be taking a break from the industry, despite recent comments that he believes Japanese development is “finished”.
