Katsuhiro Harada is, without a doubt, one of the most iconic and important figures not just within Bandai Namco Entertainment, but across the entire fighting game scene. After all, we are talking about the man who first brought the legendary Tekken franchise to life and guided it for decades.
That’s why the news delivered by Harada himself on Monday marks the true end of an era: the legendary developer announced he will be departing the company at the end of 2025, bringing to a close a massive professional chapter spanning more than 30 years.
Why Harada Is Leaving Bandai Namco
In an emotional post on X (formerly Twitter), Harada announced that he will be departing Bandai Namco this month, shortly after Tekken reached its 30th anniversary.
“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”, he explains.
As for the reason for the unexpected departure, Harada goes on in a reflective tone, speaking fondly of his early days at Bandai Namco and remembering when he had to personally carry the arcade...
