Longtime Tekken series producer Katsuhiro Harada has announced that he will be leaving Bandai Namco at the end of the year. The timing of his departure coincides with the Tekken franchise’s 30th anniversary.
Harada says the decision came as a result of him reflecting on the time he has left as a creator. “In recent years, I experienced the loss of several close friends in my personal life, and in my professional life I witnessed the retirement or passing of many senior colleagues whom I deeply respect,” he wrote on X. These accumulated events are what led him to reconsider his remaining years in the industry. After seeking guidance from respected industry peer Ken Kutaragi, Harada ultimately made the decision to leave.
The developer says he’s been gradually handing over his responsibilities to other team members in the past four to five years. He expressed gratitude for the various projects he’s been involved in during his 31-year-long career at Bandai Namco and thanked his fans and colleagues for the years of support.
While Harada hasn’t yet revealed what he’ll be doing next, he says we can expect updates at a later date. Additionally, despite his departure from Bandai Namco, he will still be appearing at the Tekken 8 TWT Finals at the end of January 2026, but as a guest. Together with the announcement of his departure, Harada has released a 60-minute Tekken DJ mix on Soundcloud, which is something he’s apparently always wanted to do.
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