Tekken Boss Katsuhiro Harada Announces Departure From Bandai Namco After 30 Years

In a nutshell

Katsuhiro Harada, longtime producer and face of the Tekken series, will leave Bandai Namco at the end of 2025 after 30 years.
He cited personal losses and reflection, while assuring fans he is not retiring from game development entirely.
Tekken 8 has already sold over 3 million copies in its first year, but the franchise’s future without Harada remains uncertain.

In a surprising announcement, legendary game developer Katsuhiro Harada has revealed that he will be leaving Bandai Namco Entertainment at the end of 2025, marking the end of a remarkable 30-year journey with the company.

Harada, widely recognized as the face of the Tekken franchise, joined Namco in the early 1990s and quickly rose through the ranks. His directorial debut came with Tekken 3 in 1998, a title that went on to cement itself as one of the greatest fighting games of all time.

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.

My roots lie…
— Katsuhiro Harada (@Harada_TEKKEN) December 8, 2025

Reasons Behind the Exit of Katsuhiro Harada

In his farewell statement posted on Twitter, Katsuhiro Harada shared that personal losses and the retirement or passing of senior colleagues had prompted deep reflection on his remaining time as a creator. He also credited Ken Kutaragi, the “Father of PlayStation,” for offering guidance and encouragement during this period.

Harada emphasized that while he is stepping away from Bandai Namco, he is not retiring from game development altogether. He has gradually handed over responsibilities for Tekken’s worldbuilding and story to the team over the past few years, ensuring a smooth transition.

What’s Next for Tekken?

In a separate statement, the Tekken Twitter account has addressed Harada’s departure, and confirms that the legendary personality will be making an appearance at a couple of Tekken World Tour events towards the end of January 2026.

Bandai Namco also assures fans that the team is “fully committed” to the future of Tekken 8, taking community feedback to “uphold the vision and spirit built by Harada-san.”

Tekken 8 recently released DLC character Miary Zo. Future content plans for the game remain unannounced, so we’ll have to wait for more updates, especially after this reveal.