We have received word today that Tecmo president Yoshimi Yasuda will resign his post at the company effective September 1st. Yasuda has been embroiled in controversy for the past several months, ever since he was named in a lawsuit filed by former Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden creator Tomonobu Itagaki accusing the company of unpaid bonuses and breach of contract. On top of this suit, two Tecmo employees have filed a separate class-action lawsuit on behalf of all the company’s employees, stating that they were placed on an illegal "flexible hours" schedule and not paid for overtime.

Yasuda has not helped his standing throughout the legal mess, first prodding Itagaki by telling him if he didn’t like getting his bonuses to either "quit or sue the company," and then attempting to shift the blame on the class-action suit from himself to Tecmo’s now deceased former chairman. With the situation only going from bad to worse, it was probably best for Yasuda and Tecmo to part ways for fear of dragging the company’s name any further through the mud.

Starting September 1st, Yasuharu Kakihara, currently the Chairman of the Board, will also take on the mantle of president, at least until a permanent candidate is chosen. In the meantime, he’s taking over the job at the worst possible time, and the whole experience will truly be a baptism by fire. Good luck Kakihara; you’re going to need it.