Katsuhiro Harada, the Executive Director and Producer of the Tekken series, has shared that he will be leaving Bandai Namco at the end of 2025.
The announcement comes as Tekken celebrates its 30th anniversary, adding that it was ‘the most fitting moment’ to step away from the FGC franchise.
Harada said: “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.”
In the statement, Harada noted how he gradually handed over all ‘responsibilities’, including stories and worldbuilding, to the team at Bandai Namco in the past ‘four to five years’.
Harada added that while he is leaving Bandai Namco at the end of the year, he will appear at the Tekken World Tour Global Finals. He will meet the community during the Last Chance Qualifier and Top 20 Finals in Malmo, Sweden, from January 31st to February 1st, 2026. Furthermore, he has released a 60-minute Tekken DJ-style non-stop mix that he himself edited, which is available on Soundcloud.
It’s a shocking turn of events for the FGC community as Harada ends his 31-year-long tenure working on the Tekken franchise. However, it is not the end for the director, sharing that he will release plans for what comes next at a ‘later date.’
Bandai Namco also released its own statement regarding Harada’s departure, while commenting on what fans can expect from Tekken in the future.
Bandai Namco wrote: “We will continue to take community feedback on the game and its content to heart to ensure that we uphold the vision and spirit built by Harada-san, dedicating our utmost efforts to ensure the legacy of the Tekken series continues as a fighting game franchise beloved worldwide.”
Tekken Esports in 2025
As Tekken has evolved as a franchise over the years, so too has its esports scene as competitors gather across various tournaments.
The franchise has stood out as one of the most celebrated competitive titles in the fighting scene, standing shoulder to shoulder with other brands such as Street Fighter. It has forged several tournament series, including the Tekken World Tour, which held its inaugural season in 2017.
Bandai Namco’s latest entry, Tekken 8, has been featured across multiple international events this year, including FGC tournament festival EVO France 2025, and was included in the 2025 Esports World Cup line-up.
