Former Tekken Director Katsuhiro Harada Says His Next Game Will Be a ‘Surprise,’ But Not Outside Fans’ Expectations
Katsuhiro Harada, the longtime director of the Tekken franchise, has departed Bandai Namco after decades with the company to establish VS Studio, a new independent development house under SNK’s umbrella. The studio is building a team with several veteran Tekken developers, including former Tekken 8 director Kohei Ikeda, to work on Harada’s next project.
While details remain scarce, Harada has teased that his upcoming game will be a “surprise” that aligns with fan expectations rather than representing a complete departure from his previous work. Alongside SNK leadership, Harada and the VS Studio team have outlined ambitious plans to revive what they characterize as Japan’s “golden era” of gaming, suggesting the project may draw on classic gaming traditions and lessons learned from series like Fatal Fury.
The move marks a significant shift in the fighting game industry, with one of its most influential voices establishing his own creative vision outside of a major publisher’s constraints. Harada’s departure from Bandai Namco follows an industry trend of veteran developers seeking independent control over new intellectual property and creative direction.