Tekken Creator Announces Departure from Bandai Namco with Special Setlist

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Tekken Creator Katsuhiro Harada’s Farewell from Bandai Namco before 30th Anniversary, Plans Special Guest Appearance at TWT Finals

On Monday, December 8, 2025, one day before the Tekken franchise’s 30th anniversary, creator Katsuhiro Harada announced that he will leave Bandai Namco at the end of the year. Harada, often called the “father of Tekken,” has been a key figure in the franchise since its inception and had led Bandai Namco’s esports division since 2019. In his announcement on social media, Harada stated that this decision was planned, and that he has spent the last five years delegating his administrative and creative responsibilities within Bandai Namco. Although his employment concludes at the end of 2025, Bandai Namco has requested that Harada make a special guest appearance at the Tekken World Tour (TWT) Finals in late January 2026.

Tekken Creator Harada’s Farewell Mix and DJ Debut at TWT Finals for 30th Anniversary

In addition to his departure, Harada is also pursuing a long-held dream: becoming a DJ. To commemorate both his announcement and the Tekken anniversary, he released a 60-minute DJ mix. Harada stated that he has wanted to DJ at a Tekken tournament for 30 years, but was never able to do so. He reflected on his early days assisting with small, local tournaments within the company, expressing gratitude to fans who have seen him as a friend over the years. Harada also noted that the recent passing of Tomonobu Itagaki influenced his decision. As his final act overseeing the franchise, he created a special 60-minute setlist featuring his edited mixes of Tekken music. Harada has said this will be his first and last release as a DJ. Beyond his roles as developer, director, and project leader, Harada voiced several characters in the Tekken series, including Marshall Law (from the original Tekken to Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection), Forest Law (in Tekken 3 and Tag Tournament), Yoshimitsu (from the original game to the first Tag Tournament), and Kunimitsu (Tekken). He also played a significant role in the creation of the Soul Calibur franchise. [Omitted promotional text]

In Case You Missed It

In other gaming news, Sophie Laurent reported on December 8th that Katsushiro Harada, the long-standing director of the Tekken series who has been instrumental in titles like Tekken 8 and Code Vein, is set to leave Bandai Namco by the end of this year after nearly three decades with the company. While he hints at his next steps being in executive roles like Producer or Game Director, his departure marks a significant shift for fans and developers alike. You can delve into more details about this transition over on Sophie’s article here Tekken Series Director Katsushiro Harada to Leave Bandai Namco at Year’s End. Meanwhile, if you’re craving more news from the Witcher universe, why not check out Bruno Pferd’s latest article published just this past Monday? “The Witcher 4 Will Be at The Game Awards 2025, but…” delves into CD Projekt RED’s recent announcements about their highly anticipated title and keeps us in the loop with all the latest developments despite our having to wait a little longer for updates. Give it a read right here The Witcher 4 Will Be at The Game Awards 2025, but…. Lastly, be sure to check out Marcus Thompson’s recent post on Players For Life, “Tomonobu Itagaki, Creator of Dead or Alive, Passes Away at 58”, published on October 16th. This thoughtful piece explores the life and impact of Itagaki, a titan in action gaming who left an indelible mark on franchises like Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden. Dive into his legacy and reminisce about his groundbreaking contributions to our favorite pastime here Tomonobu Itagaki, Creator of Dead or Alive, Passes Away at 58.

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