Capcom is riding high off of the critical and commercial success it has received from the recently released Street Fighter X Tekken, but its spirits have been dampened in recent weeks due to the physical condition of veteran Street Fighter producer Yoshinori Ono.

Ono was hospitalized this week when he demonstrated a physical status that could only be described by Sony as “heavily deteriorated.” He remains employed under Capcom but will likely be out of action for quite some time based on this Tweet that followed his hospitalization. “I’ll refrain from work for current job for a while. Another person in charge of SF series for a while. Of course I’ll constant support to it.”

It appears that, for now, the company will have to press on without one of its most well-respected creative minds. Gloom and doom is far from the sentiment being expressed by Ono; the famed producer has also Tweeted out information that brings a brief shred of optimism into this story of unmistakable woe. “I’ll be out of the limelight as fighting game series for a while. I’ll think about the new future of fighting game after this. ;D”

I speak for all of us at Got Game when I say that we wish Yoshinori Ono only the best in his recovery.

[Gamesradar]