Unfortunately we’ve just learned some sad news. Panzer Dragoon artist Takashi Iwade has passed away. James Mielke reports:
It is with great sadness to myself, his many friends on the various close-knit Panzer Dragoon teams (and current SEGA colleagues of course), and most of all his heartbroken family, that after a brief illness Iwade-san suddenly passed away last week. It goes without saying that he leaves us far too soon.
Iwade-san, thank you for everything you shared with me in our brief time knowing each other. It has been an honor to know you.
You can read the full post on James Mielke’s Instagram where he talks about meeting Iwade-san while interviewing for his Polygon article last year.
As you can see from his MobyGames profile, Takashi Iwade worked all four of the mainline Panzer Dragoon games, and the Sega Ages 2500 version of Panzer Dragoon, taking the role of art director in Panzer Dragoon Orta. Our condolences to Iwade’s friends and family, and of course this is big loss for the Panzer Dragoon community as a whole.