Katsuhiro Harada leaves Bandai Namco: the Tekken producer ends 30 years of history

Harada confirms his departure at the end of 2025 and bids farewell to the Tekken community after three decades.

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It’s been thirty years since Tekken debuted in arcades and consoles, and its most recognizable figure has just announced a historic change. Katsuhiro Harada, producer, director, and the most visible voice of the saga, will leave Bandai Namco by the end of 2025, closing a chapter that marked not only the franchise but also the fighting game community.

The veteran creative has explained that this is the right moment to “close a chapter”, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of Tekken. His message, addressed directly to the fans, reviews his beginnings in game rooms, local tournaments, his first trips abroad, and his closeness to players who, according to him, defined his identity as a developer.

Harada leaves Tekken: a farewell marked by memories and personal decisions

In his statement, Harada recalls how he started helping with tournaments in small Japanese halls, carrying arcade machines himself and encouraging people to try Tekken. That direct relationship with the community, he assures, laid the foundation for much of his understanding of video games.

The creative also acknowledges that the last few years have been especially complex on a personal level. The loss of close friends and the retirement or passing of veteran colleagues led him to reflect on the time he has left as a creator. During that process, he spoke with Ken Kutaragi, a key figure in the history of PlayStation, from whom he received support and advice before making the final decision.

Harada confirms that he had been “transferring responsibilities, plots, and creative decisions” to the current team for “four or five years”, preparing for a complete transition. Throughout his career, he participated in projects as varied as Pokkén Tournament, SoulCalibur, Summer Lesson, or several virtual reality proposals.

Bandai Namco has also published an official statement thanking him for his career and ensuring that the future of Tekken 8 is fully secured, with the team committed to new content and updates.

As a final gesture, Harada confirms that he will be present at the Tekken World Tour Finals 2025, which will take place in Sweden at the end of January 2026. And, in addition, he will leave a very personal touch: a 60-minute DJ-style music mix edited by himself, something he had been promising “for 30 years”.