Double Dragon and Kunio-kun Creator Yoshihisa Kishimoto Passes Away Aged 64
Yoshihisa Kishimoto, the influential game designer credited with creating the Kunio-kun and Double Dragon franchises, passed away on April 2, 2026, at the age of 64.
His son confirmed the news through a statement shared on the official Kunio-kun Twitter account on April 6, 2026.
Kishimoto began his career in the video game industry at Data East, where he contributed to notable laserdisc titles such as Cobra Command and Road Blaster.
After his tenure at Data East, he joined Technos Japan and developed Renegade, known in Japan as Nekketsu Kouha Kunio-kun, which laid the groundwork for the beat ’em up genre.
He followed this success by creating Double Dragon, a seminal title that defined side-scrolling combat games for a generation of players.
In his later career, Kishimoto remained active in the industry by directing Double Dragon IV and serving as a collaborative director for Stay Cool, Kobayashi-san!: A River City Ransom Story.
Fans and colleagues have begun sharing tributes online to honor the legacy of a man whose work fundamentally shaped the landscape of action games.
His son expressed deep appreciation for the support of the community and the information shared with fans over the many years of his father’s career.
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