Tekken 8 game director Kohei Ikeda leaves after 20 years at Bandai Namco, amidst on-going series woes

Kohei Ikeda, the game director of Tekken 7 and 8, has announced his departure from Bandai Namco after 20 years with the company. Known in the gaming community as “Nakatsu,” Ikeda joined Bandai Namco in the early 2000s and initially worked on Soulcalibur IV before transitioning to the Tekken franchise, where he eventually became game director for the last two mainline entries.

Ikeda’s exit comes just five months after Katsuhiro Harada, the long-time executive director and face of the Tekken franchise, left Bandai Namco to establish VS Studio in partnership with SNK Corporation. This follows an earlier departure of assistant director Yohei Shimbori in August 2025, marking a significant period of transition for the Tekken team.

In a farewell message posted on social media, Ikeda expressed gratitude for his time at the company and the fighting game community, emphasizing his commitment to keeping the franchise close to its fans. However, he did not disclose his future plans, though industry observers and fans have speculated he may rejoin Harada at his new venture.

The rapid succession of high-profile departures from the Tekken leadership has raised concerns within the community about the franchise’s direction and future development. Ikeda attempted to allay some worries by suggesting the series remains in capable hands, but the exodus of key figures during a time when Tekken 8 is still receiving live-service support highlights the broader challenges facing the franchise and raises questions about leadership continuity.

Sources

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