In a nutshell

• Kohei Ikeda, game director of Tekken 8, leaves Bandai Namco after 20 years.
• Ikeda previously directed Tekken 7 and contributed to Soulcalibur IV and Tekken Tag Tournament 2.
• He plans to continue pursuing new challenges in game development beyond Bandai Namco.

Kohei Ikeda, chief producer and game director of Tekken 8, has announced that he has officially left Bandai Namco after 20 years. Ikeda’s career spans multiple landmark titles, including serving as game director for Tekken 7, producer of Tekken 3D: Prime Edition, and designer roles on Tekken Tag Tournament 2 and Soulcalibur IV.

In his farewell message, Ikeda expressed gratitude for the opportunity to work alongside “incredible people who poured their hearts into this work,” while emphasizing his commitment to continue taking on new challenges as a developer.

Following Harada’s Departure

Ikeda’s exit comes just months after another Tekken veteran, Katsuhiro Harada, departed Bandai Namco after 31 years to establish VS Studio under SNK. Together, their departures signify a significant transition for the long‑running fighting game franchise.

Looking Ahead for Tekken 8

While Ikeda’s role as game director has come to a close, he reassured fans that the values of the Tekken Project, which are staying close to the community and building the game alongside its players, remain intact. He entrusted these principles to the team continuing development, while hinting at future projects where fans may cross paths with him again.