Fans’ fears have been confirmed: Katsuhiro Harada is leaving Bandai Namco Entertainment after more than three decades. As the franchise’s 30th-anniversary celebrations wind down, Harada’s involvement with Tekken spans 31 years.
A developer tied to Tekken since its inception and the original voice of Marshall Law, Kunimitsu and Yoshimitsu, Harada most recently served as the series’ producer. He has announced his departure from Bandai Namco Entertainment. Earlier in January he had mentioned being open to collaborations with other studios, though those remarks were later disputed.
Harada explained that his decision was influenced by witnessing the retirements and deaths of close friends. He sought guidance from PlayStation founder Ken Kutaragi, which encouraged him to reconsider how he wants to spend his remaining time. In recent years he has been gradually transferring full responsibility for the series to the TEKKEN team.
Although he is formally stepping back from the franchise, Harada is not leaving completely. Tekken representatives confirmed he has been invited to the Tekken World Tour finals at the end of January and will attend as a guest. He has also indicated that he is not retiring yet and plans to reveal new projects soon.
Source: iXBT.games