Katsuhiro Harada is leaving Bandai Namco at the end of 2025 to coincide with Tekken‘s 30th anniversary. He made the announcement via Twitter.
“My roots lie in the days when I supported small local tournaments in Japanese arcades and in small halls and community centers overseas,” he writes. “I still remember carrying arcade cabinets by myself, encouraging people to “Please try TEKKEN,” and directly facing the players right in front of me. The conversations and atmosphere we shared in those places became the core of who I am as a developer and game creator.”
During his time at Bandai Namco, Harada worked on a plethora of series, not just Tekken, including VR title Summer Lesson, Pókken Tournament, and Soul Calibur, among others 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.”
Katsuhiro Harada and Ken Kutaragi
The recent loss of several colleagues as well as personal close friends in part spurred on his decision to step away from the company where he’s spent the majority of his career. After seeking advice and guidance from “the father of PlayStation” Ken Kutaragi, Harada began handing his responsibilities, world building, and stories over to the team over the course of five years in preparation for his departure.
“To everyone who has supported me, to communities around the world, and to all the colleagues who have walked alongside me for so many years, I offer my deepest gratitude.”
In addition to his announcement, Harada also dropped an hour-long Tekken DJ Remix, edited by himself, as tribute to the series he spent so many long years with. “TEKKEN: A 30 Year Journey – Harada’s Final Mix” is available on SoundCloud. Harada will also be making one final post-retirement appearance on behalf of Bandai Namco at the TWT Finals at the end of Jan 2026.
