Tekken’s Katsuhiro Harada exits Bandai Namco after over 30 years of service. Read on to learn more about the famed director’s departure, and what this means for the Tekken franchise.
Tekken’s Katsuhiro Harada Leaves Bandai Namco
Over 30 Years of Tekken
Tekken Director Katsuhiro Harada will be leaving Bandai Namco at the end of 2025. In a long and heartfelt Twitter (X) post on December 8, Harada thanked fans for their support and looked back at all the titles and projects he became a part of during his time with the company.
"Looking back, I was fortunate to work on an extraordinary variety of projects—VR titles (such as Summer Lesson), Pokkén Tournament, the SoulCalibur series, and many others, both inside and outside the company. Each project was full of new discoveries and learning, and every one of them became an irreplaceable experience for me," he stated.
However, Harada was best known for his involvement with the Tekken series, which dates back to 1994 with the first Tekken. He served as an advisory consultant for Tekken and Tekken 2 (1995), and even became the voice actor for characters such as Marshall Law, Yoshimitsu, and Kunimitsu.
Harada then rose to become the co-director of Tekken 3 (1997), followed by his role as director for Tekken Tag Tournament (1999), Tekken 4 (2001), and Tekken 5 (2004). He was also the project supervisor for Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection (2005).
Throughout these titles, Harada also developed several popular mini-games, such as Tekken Ball for Tekken 3 and Tekken Bowl for Tekken Tag Tournament.
It wasn't until Tekken 6 (2007) and Tekken Tag Tournament 2 (2011) that Harada became the public face of the franchise, serving as Executive Producer for both titles. Following this, he was the director for the next main installment, Tekken 7 (2015).
Harada concluded his decades-long tenure with the franchise by serving as the Executive Producer for Tekken 8, which was released in 2024, marking the final main installment before his announced departure from the company at the end of 2025.
Speculation surrounding Harada’s exit started early this year after fans noticed his LinkedIn profile, which suggested he was open to new positions and opportunities. Although he initially dispelled rumors about his alleged departure, it seems that there is indeed fire in the smoke as Harada and Bandai Namco have officially announced their parting ways.
Harada’s Final Appearance and Tekken’s Future
While Harada is scheduled to leave the company by the end of this year, he was invited to make an appearance at the "TEKKEN World Tour 2025 Global Finals" Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ) and Top 20 Finals in Malmö, Sweden, on January 31 and February 1, 2026.
Furthermore, in a final gesture to the Tekken community, Katsuhiro Harada has released a 60-minute, TEKKEN DJ-style nonstop mix on Soundcloud, personally edited by himself. The veteran producer explained that throughout his 30-year tenure, he repeatedly promised himself to perform as a DJ at a tournament, a promise he never kept
Deciding this would be the "first and last time" he offered such a mix and stated, "Listening to it brings back many memories. Thank you again, sincerely, for all these years."
Amidst the Tekken figurehead’s departure, Bandai Namco assured fans that they are fully committed to the development and future content for their current title, Tekken 8. They promised to continue and uphold the spirit and vision of Harada, ensuring that the fighting game franchise remains beloved worldwide.
With Harada’s exit, fans are wary of the series’ future, questioning whether there will be a succeeding Tekken 9 sequel. Bandai Namco has yet to reveal any specific details regarding the franchise’s future or who will take the mantle of the famed director.
Source:
Tekken Twitter (X) post on Katsuhiro Harada’s Departure From Bandai Namco
Katsuhiro Harada Twitter (X) post on Bandai Namco Exit
