Veteran Tekken game developer Katsuhiro Harada announced his departure from Bandai Namco after spending 30 years with the company.
After many years and decades crafting the world of Tekken, the person behind it all is throwing in the towel. Well-known Tekken game developer Katsuhiro Harada announced he will be leaving Bandai Namco at the end of 2025. Harada issued a statement this morning with a heartfelt message about how much he thought about this decision. The Tekken 8 team also made a statement regarding the status of the game’s updates.
The Tekken franchise has been a genre-defining fighting game world, standing alongside Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter. Harada was the mastermind behind the game’s success over the years, becoming the face of the series at events. While Harada stepping away from Bandai Namco marks the end of an era, the Tekken 8 team said his exit will not impact ongoing development or the post-launch roadmap. They emphasized their commitment to continuing the series “with the vision and spirit built by Harada-san,” promising to keep community feedback at the core of their approach as the well-known fighting game franchise moves into its next era.
Harada explained that his decision to leave came after a period of personal and professional loss. He continued elaborating that the “loss of several close friends” and watching senior colleagues retire or pass away caused him to reflect deeply on “the time [he] has left as a creator.” After decades spent shaping the world, characters, and legacy of Tekken, he felt this was the most befitting time to cap off his own legacy.
He followed up with an outlined message, looking back on his time beginning at Bandai Namco. He recalled his humble beginnings at local Japanese arcade tournaments and traced his journey through the studio’s growth and Tekken’s global rise. He thanked fans for their unwavering support and said he will share details about his future plans in due course.
Harada left off on two final notes, involving two of the last upcoming related activities on his agenda. The first announcements he revealed was that “Bandai Namco has asked [him] to appear at the TWT Finals at the end of January 2026, so [he is] expect[ed] to attend as a guest.” For those of you have seen Harada at these tournaments, you know how great he is and and loves competing too.
The second announcement was a more funny one. His final message stated, “For 30 years I kept saying, “I’ll do it someday,” and never once performed as a DJ at a tournament event. So instead, I will be releasing—for the first and last time—a 60-minute TEKKEN DJ-style nonstop mix (DJ mix), personally edited by myself, together with this announcement. Listening to it brings back many memories. Thank you again, sincerely, for all these years.”
Let us know your favourite Tekken or favourite Katsuhiro Harada memory. While doing so, give a listen to Harada’s mix too.
It’s bittersweet to see Katsuhiro Harada leave after such a remarkable 30-year journey with Bandai Namco. His contributions to the Tekken series have truly shaped the fighting game landscape. Wishing him all the best in his future endeavors!
I completely agree; his contributions to the Tekken series have shaped the fighting game landscape. It’s interesting to think about how his vision will influence future projects, whether he stays in gaming or pursues new ventures. His legacy will certainly be felt for years to come!
Absolutely! Harada’s innovative approach not only defined Tekken but also set new standards for character development and gameplay mechanics in fighting games. It’s going to be interesting to see how the series evolves without his influence.
You’re so right! Harada’s vision truly reshaped the fighting game genre, especially with the introduction of unique mechanics in Tekken. It’ll be interesting to see how his departure influences future developments in the series.