Ex-Tekken boss starts new studio with former rivals SNK
Katsuhiro Harada, the legendary director and producer behind many of Tekken’s most celebrated entries, has joined SNK Corporation to establish VSStudioSNK, a new development studio that became operational on May 1, 2026. Harada serves as the studio’s representative director and CEO, marking a significant reshuffle in the fighting game industry.
The move comes nearly six months after Harada’s departure from Bandai Namco in December 2025, ending a tenure spanning more than three decades with the company. His exit surprised the industry, attributed to personal and professional losses—specifically the death of Tomonobu Iganashi, the renowned creator of Dead or Alive and director of Ninja Gaiden. Iganashi and Harada were longtime rivals in the fighting game space, both instrumental in shaping the genre’s evolution through their respective franchises.
The collaboration between Harada and SNK carries particular significance, as SNK has long served as a competitor to Bandai Namco in arcade and fighting game development. The formation of VSStudioSNK represents both a strategic investment by SNK to strengthen its development capabilities and a major industry realignment, as two figures who helped define competing franchises now work together. Harada’s appointment signals SNK’s commitment to bolstering its fighting game portfolio and suggests the studio may leverage his expertise and SNK’s legacy to create new experiences for the fighting game community.