After over three decades at Bandai Namco, Visionary Tekken Director Katsuhiro Harada has officially joined SNK Corporation. Harada has previously directed various games such as Tekken 3, 4, 5, and more.

The director has now formed his own studio named VS Studio, backed by SNK. Established on May 1, 2026, Harada is the CEO and representative director of the studio.

SNK has been a long-time rival of Bandai Namco in terms of versus games. They created the King of Fighters and Samurai Showdown games that directly compete with Tekken.

In a press release, it was revealed that SNK and the new studio plan on collaborating for future games. SNK has also planned to make VS Studio SNK a consolidated subsidiary.

“VS Studio's philosophy is 'Beyond tradition, crafted to perfection.' We will combine technology, sensibility, and world-class expertise to pursue the ultimate." Harada said, speaking about his new endeavor.

Now, in his recent statement, he's spoken about his excitement for the future.

Former Tekken Boss, Katsuhiro Harada, is Ready To Make New Games

Katsuhiro Harada's work on the Tekken series has been very impressive, and now, he's ready to take the next step in his journey. VS Studio SNK is, according to him, the perfect place for him to perform his best.

"By bringing together technology and knowledge, and working with passionate colleagues, we aim to deliver the best gaming experiences to users worldwide." He said in his recent statement.

According to Harada, the 'VS' in the studio's name stands for many things, including Video game Soft (VS Development Division), the spirit of "Versus" challenging tradition, Visionary Standard, Volition Shift, and Vanguard Spirit.

The studio is currently looking to bring in new employees who share its grand vision. Even though the former Tekken lead promised an impressive gaming experience, not much is known about the future.

According to SNK developer Yasuyuki Oda, the dream scenario of Harada joining SNK had been discussed many times before he arrived.

That being said, the developer revealed that nothing had been decided yet. However, with Harada on board, "things will become even more exciting than ever before," said Oda.

With both Oda and Harada promising a bright future, fans of the Tekken series may have reason to hold on to their breath. Since the studio is brand new, it may take them several years to come out with a complete game.

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Written by

Prit Chauhan

Edited by

Aadesh Dhote