Veteran Sega artist Takashi Iwade has reportedly passed away after a brief illness.

That’s according to an Instagram post by James Mielke, creative director at game studio Tigertron and founder of BitSummit, Japan’s leading independent game development event.

Iwade worked at Sega for over 25 years, joining the Japanese company as a senior artist in April 1993.

He worked on numerous entries in the Panzer Dragoon series, including as art director on 2002’s Panzer Dragoon Orta, and as lead FX artist on the Yakuza franchise.

Iwade was one of few developers who worked on most games in the Panzer Dragoon series.

Mielke, who had a personal relationship with Iwade, said: “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.”