Industry Icon Passes Away
Yoshihisa Kishimoto, the visionary behind the beloved Double Dragon and River City (Kuno-kun) franchises, has died at the age of 64. His passing was confirmed by his son, Ryūbō Kishimoto, through various social media platforms.
"This is the son of Yoshihisa Kishimoto," he wrote on Facebook. "I am sorry to inform you that my father has passed to rest on 04/02/2026... I hope you will continue to enjoy my father's works, including Kuno-kun. Thank you." In a heartfelt follow-up on Twitter/X, Ryūbō expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support and memories shared by fans around the world.
Kishimoto's influence in the gaming industry is undeniable. He began his career at Data East, focusing on laserdisc games, before joining Technōs Japan. There, he carved out his legacy with numerous beat-em-ups, most notably Double Dragon and the Kunio-kun series, which found a large following in the West as River City.
His inspiration for these games stemmed from personal experiences, including a breakup during his school years and a love for Bruce Lee's films like Enter the Dragon. In 1986, he developed Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun, known internationally as Renegade, marking the start of the River City franchise.
Over the years, Kishimoto created several sequels for arcades and platforms like the NES, SNES, and PlayStation. However, he eventually left Technōs due to a desire for creative freedom and frustrations regarding budget constraints on game development.
Post-Technōs, Kishimoto operated under the name "Plophet," where he continued to innovate and also took on consulting roles for other projects. His most recent directorial work was on Double Dragon IV in 2017, published by Arc System Works after acquiring the franchise license.
Ryūbō Kishimoto has announced that a private funeral for his father will be held tomorrow, honoring the legacy of a true pioneer in the gaming world.