Hideaki Itsuno, the creative force behind Devil May Cry and Dragon’s Dogma, has officially reunited with several long-time collaborators at his new home: LightSpeed Japan Studio. The Tokyo-based developer, which recently expanded with a second office in Osaka, has recruited some of Capcom’s most respected veterans to help shape Itsuno’s next big project.

Among the new hires is Bingo Morihashi, a scenario writer best known for his work on Devil May Cry 3 and Devil May Cry 4, as well as the original Dragon’s Dogma. He steps into the role of narrative lead, ensuring the new project carries the same blend of sharp dialogue and layered world-building fans expect from Itsuno’s past games.

On the visual side, Daigo Ikeno has joined as art director. Ikeno’s history with Capcom runs deep, with credits spanning Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike, Street Fighter IV, and multiple Devil May Cry titles. His experience in character design and visual identity is expected to be a cornerstone of the studio’s creative direction.

Rounding out the trio is the legendary illustrator Bengus (also known as Gouda Cheese), who helped define Capcom’s 2D era with striking character art for Darkstalkers, Street Fighter, and the Marvel vs. Capcom series. His distinctive style has influenced generations of players, and now it’s set to leave a mark on Itsuno’s upcoming game.

These hires are part of a larger trend inside LightSpeed Japan Studio: nearly a third of its workforce has ties to Capcom. Itsuno himself noted how important it was to build a team with people he already trusts, saying the shared history removes many of the usual obstacles new studios face.

While details on the project remain under wraps, Itsuno has hinted at wanting to merge the strengths of his past work. That means fast, expressive combat in the spirit of Devil May Cry, layered systems inspired by Dragon’s Dogma, and perhaps even some fighting-game flair reminiscent of his earlier work on Rival Schools. One thing he has been clear about, however, is that the game will not follow the path of a Soulslike.

With a stacked roster of talent and the resources of LightSpeed Studios behind it, Itsuno’s new venture is shaping up to be one of the most exciting projects in Japan’s game development scene. For fans of stylish action and deep combat design, the wait for what comes next may already feel unbearable.