Katsuhiro Harada, one of the most recognizable figures in modern fighting games, has announced that he will leave Bandai Namco and step away from the Tekken franchise at the end of 2025. Harada has been involved with the series since its 1994 debut, shaping Tekken’s tone, mechanics, and public presence as it grew into one of the genre’s longest-running properties. His departure marks the end of a 30-year tenure that coincides almost exactly with the franchise’s own anniversary.
In a statement shared on social media, Harada explained that the decision grew out of personal reflection following the loss of several close friends and the retirement or passing of colleagues he considered formative influences. Those experiences, he wrote, led him to reassess how he wanted to spend the remaining years of his creative life. He also noted that he sought advice from former PlayStation executive Ken Kutaragi, whose guidance helped him arrive at a final decision. Harada said he views the franchise’s 30-year milestone as a natural endpoint for his involvement.
I’d like to share that I’ll be leaving Bandai Namco at the end of 2025.
— Katsuhiro Harada (@Harada_TEKKEN) December 8, 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…
Harada emphasized that he has spent considerable time preparing the Tekken development team for his absence, noting that the franchise is no longer dependent on any single figure. Over three decades, he contributed not only to Tekken but also to projects such as Pokkén Tournament and SoulCalibur, helping define Bandai Namco’s broader presence in the fighting-game landscape. While he did not outline his future plans, he indicated that he intends to share them at a later date.
Bandai Namco responded with a public message thanking Harada for his decades of work and stating that development and live-content support for Tekken 8 will continue. The publisher’s reassurance comes during a challenging period for the latest mainline entry. Despite a strong launch and 3 million sales in its first year, Tekken 8 spent much of 2025 navigating criticism from long-time players, particularly regarding gameplay adjustments, character balance changes, and the ongoing debate around its microtransaction model. Harada’s exit adds another transition point for the series, though the company’s statement suggests that structural plans for Tekken’s near-term future are already in place.
