Drama occurs within the Temco company as Team Ninja head Tomonobu Itagaki resigns just prior to the release of new game Ninja Gaiden II.

Executive producer of the Temco-owned development studio Team Ninja, Tomonobu Itagaki has handed in his resignation. In the meantime this week, the eagerly awaited Ninja Gaiden II is being released in Europe and North America. Instead of concentrating on and celebrating the game title's release, unfortunately attention is presently focused on Itagaki's forthcoming exit from the company. However, the departure of the controversial chief of Team Ninja is quite clearly not an amicable parting of ways. It is reported that Itagaki will be resigning on July 1st and in addition he is suing Temco for incentive bonuses that he claims remain unpaid.

After an initial silence, Japanese publisher Temco has acknowledged Itagaki's resignation. Further, Temco appears to be unhappy at the fact that this subject has been brought out into the open among the general public and it is fairly apparent that the Temco management would have preferred such matters to be kept private. In reference to the suing issue, Temco has reportedly noted that the parties concerned were unable to reach an amicable solution and it will therefore now be in the hands of the courts to determine a fair and suitable resolution to the disagreement.

Itagaki's imminent departure from the company means that he will not be involved with future projects related to the Ninja Gaiden and the Dead or Alive franchises. However, Temco has attempted to reassure enthusiasts of their games that the company still has projects in the workings and the impression is that these will continue. It seems that Temco appears to be trying to put over to its fans that it is business as usual and that there will be future Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive action.