Tencent-owned Lightspeed Studios has expanded its footprint in Japan by inaugurating a second studio in Osaka. This strategic move comes on the heels of the company’s initial Osaka venture, which launched in November 2024 under the guidance of Capcom veteran Hideaki Itsuno.
New Talent on Board
In an exciting development, Lightspeed Studios has welcomed a trio of former Capcom luminaries to its ranks. The new hires include:
- Toshihiro Nakagawa, a seasoned writer known for his contributions to iconic titles.
- Daigo Ikeno, an artist whose work has left an indelible mark on the gaming landscape.
- Bengus, an illustrator celebrated for his unique style and legendary status at Capcom, also known by the monikers ‘Gouda Cheese’ and ‘Bengus.’
These talented individuals bring with them a wealth of experience from renowned franchises such as Devil May Cry, Dragon’s Dogma, Street Fighter, and Darkstalkers.
Itsuno expressed his enthusiasm for collaborating with trusted colleagues, stating, “Although we’re a new studio working on a new game, it’s good to be able to work with people who I trust like Mr. Nakagawa. I have been working with him for decades, since Devil May Cry 2, and he’s one of those core members who understands me very well.”
He further elaborated on the synergy within the team: “Ikeno-san is also participating as an art director this time, and Bengus-san has a very high level of understanding and is a very unique man – he was a legendary designer at Capcom.”
Itsuno emphasized the importance of trust in their collaborative efforts, noting, “It’s all about a sense of trust… we know exactly what each of us want. And it’s not just these three people: I also hired some other people I worked with from before at Capcom, so even though this is a new studio, I’ve gathered those people who I trust to make sure that this is going to be a successful game.”
In a bold statement about the gaming landscape in Japan, Itsuno remarked, “Very few studios in Japan are taking on the challenge of building original triple-A IP from scratch. That’s exactly what we’re doing.”
