Former Tekken boss completes his 30-year career with a pilgrimage to the fighting game’s holy land: Waffle House
Katsuhiro Harada, the longtime creative force behind the Tekken franchise, has departed Bandai Namco at the end of 2025 after three decades with the company. According to reports, Harada is transitioning to head a newly formed Saudi-funded game development studio, marking a significant shift in his career.
To commemorate his storied tenure with Tekken, Harada made a notable pilgrimage during a recent visit to Atlanta for Momocon. He visited Waffle House—a destination that holds special significance within the fighting game community due to an enduring inside joke among fans and developers. For years, the community has humorously petitioned Harada to create a Waffle House stage within Tekken, transforming the American diner chain into a playable fighting arena. Harada’s visit and documentation of the moment resonated with fans as a bittersweet full-circle moment, acknowledging both his legacy with the franchise and the quirky culture of the Tekken community.
This pilgrimage serves as an unofficial farewell to his time at Bandai Namco, where he helped shape Tekken into one of gaming’s most iconic fighting game franchises. While Harada is moving on to new ventures with his Saudi-backed studio, his departure marks the end of an era for the long-running series and represents a notable shift in leadership.