Katsuhiro Harada, the head of Tekken development, has announced he will be leaving Bandai Namco and the Tekken series at the end of 2025. Harada, who has been involved with every Tekken game since the very first one in 1994, shared on social media that recent personal losses made him reflect on his career. After speaking with PlayStation legend Ken Kutaragi, he decided to step down after 30 years with the franchise.
In a recent online post, Katsuhiro Harada explained that with the Tekken series celebrating its 30th anniversary – a significant point in a project he’s dedicated much of his life to – he felt it was the right time to step back from a chapter of his work. This decision came after experiencing personal losses and witnessing the retirement or passing of respected colleagues. These events led him to consider his future as a creator. He sought guidance from Ken Kutaragi, whom he considers a mentor, and Kutaragi’s support helped him reach this conclusion.
I’m announcing that I’ll be leaving Bandai Namco at the end of 2025. With the Tekken series celebrating its 30th anniversary – a significant milestone for a project I’ve dedicated a large part of my life to – I felt it was the right time to move on to a new chapter. My background…
— Katsuhiro Harada (@Harada_TEKKEN) December 8, 2025
Harada announced he’d been preparing the Tekken team for his eventual departure and expressed his gratitude for his time working on the series, as well as games like Pokken Tournament and SoulCalibur. He plans to share details about his future plans later. Bandai Namco confirmed its continued dedication to developing and supporting Tekken 8, and thanked Harada for his many years of contributions.
A message from the #TEKKEN8 team.
— TEKKEN (@TEKKEN) December 8, 2025
Tekken 8 got off to a great start, selling 3 million copies in its first year. However, 2025 has been challenging. While the game has received updates and changes to characters, many dedicated fans haven’t been happy with them. The game’s system for buying extra content has also drawn criticism from players.
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2025-12-08 14:09