Tekken Series Director Katsushiro Harada to Leave Bandai Namco at Year's End

Departure of Tekken Director Katsuhiro Harada after Nearly 32 Years at Bandai Namco - New Horizons Await

Katsuhiro Harada, director of the Tekken series, has announced his departure from Bandai Namco by the end of 2025, concluding a nearly 32-year career with the company. Harada's decision follows a period of reflection prompted by personal losses and the departure of senior colleagues. In a LinkedIn post, Harada stated, "With the Tekken series completing 30 years—a significant milestone for a project I’ve dedicated much of my life to—I felt this was the most appropriate time to close this chapter." He also mentioned that he had gradually transferred his responsibilities, including oversight of storylines and worldbuilding, to his team over the past four to five years. Earlier in the year, Harada hinted at his departure by expressing interest in new roles such as Executive Producer and Executive Game Director in a LinkedIn post. When Tekken fans voiced concerns, Harada responded on X (formerly Twitter) that he simply wanted to broaden his horizons. Shortly thereafter, he sought advice from PlayStation legend Ken Kutaragi, who provided encouragement and guidance.

Katsuhiro Harada's Legacy in Gaming: Beyond Tekken and New Ventures

Harada's history with the Tekken franchise dates back to the beginning of his career at Bandai Namco. He provided voice acting for Marshall Law and Yoshimitsu in the first two games before becoming game director with Tekken 3 in 1997. In addition to Tekken, Harada has contributed to other titles, including Soulcalibur IV, Ace Combat Infinity, and Pokken Tournament. More recently, he was credited as a game producer for Bandai Namco-published titles such as The Dark Pictures: Man of Medan, Code Vein, and Tales of Arise. Harada also mentioned working on "an extraordinary variety of projects – titles like Summer Lesson (a VR game)... both within and outside the company." Harada's most recent project, Tekken 8, achieved critical and commercial success, selling two million units in its launch month and surpassing three million within a year, exceeding the sales of its predecessor during the same period. As a farewell gift to fans, Harada released a one-hour DJ mix of Tekken music. Bandai Namco has invited him to make a special appearance at the TWT finals in January 2026. Harada stated that he would share more details about his future plans later.

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