Tekken director Katsuhiro Harada is back, but this time at his own studio backed by old fighting game rival SNK

Katsuhiro Harada, the legendary director and face of the Tekken franchise at Bandai Namco for over 20 years, has founded a new game development studio following his departure from the company in December 2024. VS Studio, officially established on May 1, 2026, is being backed by SNK, the renowned Japanese developer and publisher known for fighting game franchises including King of Fighters, Fatal Fury, and Samurai Shodown.

The studio will operate as a consolidated subsidiary of SNK with Harada serving as CEO at the Tokyo-based studio located in Shinagawa. The partnership represents an interesting turn in the fighting game landscape, uniting two industry rivals under a single corporate umbrella. According to the official announcement, VS Studio’s philosophy centers on “Beyond tradition, crafted to perfection,” with a commitment to “combine technology, sensibility, and world-class expertise to pursue the ultimate.”

The “VS” acronym carries multiple meanings: Video game Software, the spirit of “Versus” in challenging tradition, and symbolizes innovation and competition. While specific projects remain unannounced, the studio’s name and leadership suggest a continued focus on fighting games. This move marks Harada’s return to active game development after a brief retirement, drawing on his 31 years of industry experience at Bandai Namco.

Tekken director Katsuhiro Harada is back, but this time at his own studio backed by old fighting game rival SNK

Sources