Katsuhiro Harada, a key figure synonymous with the Tekken series, is set to depart from Bandai Namco at the close of 2025. His departure marks the end of an era, as he has been a pillar of the franchise since its inception. This decision aligns with the 30th anniversary of Tekken, a milestone which Harada views as a fitting time to conclude this chapter of his remarkable career.
Harada’s Journey with Bandai Namco
Earlier this year, Harada hinted at a career change when he updated his LinkedIn profile to reflect his openness to new opportunities, including roles such as Executive Producer and Vice President. Despite initial fan concerns, Harada reassured them via social media that his intentions were to expand his horizons. In his recent LinkedIn announcement, Harada confirmed his departure, reflecting on his extensive career at Bandai Namco. He shared, “I’d like to share that I’ll be leaving Bandai Namco at the end of 2025. With the TEKKEN series reaching its 30th anniversary—an important milestone for a project I’ve devoted much of my life to—I felt this was the most fitting moment to bring one chapter to a close.”
The Tekken mastermind has gradually passed on his responsibilities over the past few years, contributing to various projects beyond Tekken, such as VR titles like Summer Lesson, Pokkén Tournament, and the SoulCalibur series.
Legacy and Future Prospects
Harada’s involvement with Tekken began as a voice actor for Marshall Law and Yoshimitsu in the first two games, later stepping into the role of Game Director with Tekken 3 in 1997. His portfolio extends to titles like SoulCalibur IV and Ace Combat Infinity. More recently, he produced popular games such as The Dark Pictures: Man of Medan, Code Vein, and Tales of Arise. His last major contribution, Tekken 8, was met with critical acclaim and commercial success, selling two million units in its first month and reaching three million within a year.
As a farewell gesture, Harada released an hour-long nonstop DJ mix, celebrating Tekken’s 30-year journey, which is available on SoundCloud. Fans can also look forward to his appearance as a guest at the TWT Finals in January 2026, where he is expected to reveal more about his future endeavors.