Katsuhiro Harada, the long-time visionary behind the Tekken franchise, is officially stepping down after a legendary 30-year career. Under his stewardship, the series has achieved monumental success, surpassing 61 million copies sold across various gaming platforms.
Harada shared a poignant message on X regarding his departure:
“I am no longer the developer or creator of the TEKKEN series. Harada_TEKKEN is dead.”
Bandai Namco remains committed to the longevity of Tekken 8 and the IP as a whole. The development staff has already teased a robust roadmap for 2026, promising fans “more battles and continuous updates.”
Leading the series forward in Harada’s wake will be a dual-leadership team: Tekken 8 director Kohei Ikeda and long-time producer Michael Murray. While no official word has been given regarding future sequels or spin-offs, players can expect a steady stream of additional content for Tekken 8 through upcoming season passes.
Harada may make one final public appearance for the brand at the Tekken World Tour finals, which are set to take place from January 29 to February 1, 2026.
Source: iXBT.games