The daddy of Tekken is shifting on!
Katsuhiro Harada, whom many view as the daddy of Tekken, is taking his depart of Bandai Namco. The producer is timing his departure to coincide with the thirtieth anniversary of the Tekken collection. He wrote an announcement explaining the impetus for his departure. Give it a learn:
I’d wish to share that I’ll be leaving Bandai Namco on the finish of 2025.With the TEKKEN collection reaching its thirtieth anniversary—an essential milestone for a venture I’ve devoted a lot of my life to—I felt this was probably the most becoming second to carry one chapter to an in depth.
My roots lie…
— Katsuhiro Harada (@Harada_TEKKEN) December 8, 2025
I’d wish to share that I’ll be leaving Bandai Namco on the finish of 2025.
With the TEKKEN collection reaching its thirtieth anniversary—an essential milestone for a venture I’ve devoted a lot of my life to—I felt this was probably the most becoming second to carry one chapter to an in depth.My roots lie within the days after I supported small native tournaments in Japanese arcades and in small halls and neighborhood facilities abroad.I nonetheless bear in mind carrying arcade cupboards on my own, encouraging folks to “Please strive TEKKEN,” and immediately going through the gamers proper in entrance of me.The conversations and environment we shared in these locations turned the core of who I’m as a developer and recreation creator.
Even because the occasions modified, these experiences have remained on the middle of my identification.And even after the event scene grew a lot bigger, lots of you continued to deal with me like an previous pal—difficult me at venues, inviting me out for drinks at bars.These reminiscences are additionally deeply valuable to me.In recent times, I skilled the lack of a number of shut associates in my private life, and in my skilled life I witnessed the retirement or passing of many senior colleagues whom I deeply respect.These collected occasions made me replicate on the “time I’ve left as a creator.”Throughout that interval, I sought recommendation from Ken Kutaragi—whom I respect as if he had been one other father—and obtained invaluable encouragement and steerage.His phrases quietly supported me in making this choice.
Over the previous 4 to 5 years, I’ve progressively handed over all of my duties, in addition to the tales and worldbuilding I oversaw, to the crew, bringing me to the current day.Wanting again, I used to be lucky to work on a rare number of tasks—VR titles (similar to Summer time Lesson), Pokkén Match, the SoulCalibur collection, and plenty of others, each inside and out of doors the corporate.Every venture was full of recent discoveries and studying, and each considered one of them turned an irreplaceable expertise for me.To everybody who has supported me, to communities around the globe, and to all of the colleagues who’ve walked alongside me for thus a few years, I supply my deepest gratitude.I’ll share extra about my subsequent steps at a later date.Thanks very a lot for all the things.
【Postscript】Though I might be leaving the corporate on the finish of 2025, Bandai Namco has requested me to seem on the TWT Finals on the finish of January 2026, so I count on to attend as a visitor.
For 30 years I stored saying, “I’ll do it sometime,” and by no means as soon as carried out as a DJ at a event occasion.So as a substitute, I might be releasing—for the primary and final time—a 60-minute TEKKEN DJ-style nonstop combine (DJ combine), personally edited on my own, along with this announcement.Listening to it brings again many reminiscences.Thanks once more, sincerely, for all these years.
‘TEKKEN: A 30-Yr Journey – Harada’s Closing Combine’ by Katsuhiro Harada 1 is on #SoundCloud
December 8, 2025 – The Closing Day of TEKKEN’s thirtieth Anniversary –Katsuhiro Harada
It appears, primarily based on Harada’s submit, that there’s no animosity between himself and Bandai Namco, however slightly that following a collection of modifications and losses in his life, the creator feels that the time is now to maneuver on to one thing new in life. Harada might be displaying up on the TWT Finals on the finish of January 2026, after which he’ll be transitioning into the subsequent stage of his life. Harada is an enormous determine on the earth of video video games, so it will likely be unhappy to see him go, however hopefully wherever he finds himself, he continues to really feel completely happy and fulfilled.
Supply: Katsuhiro Harada X Account
