Katsuhiro Harada, the longtime director and public face of the Tekken series, has announced that he will be leaving Bandai Namco at the end of 2025. His departure comes at a major moment for the franchise, as Tekken is about to celebrate its 30th anniversary. For many fans, this news feels like the end of an era, because Harada has been involved with every main Tekken game from the very beginning, including last year’s Tekken 8. He has served as a game director on the series since Tekken 3.

Harada shared a long and heartfelt message on X, where he explained why he chose this moment to step away. He said that the 30th anniversary of Tekken is an important milestone, and after spending so much of his life shaping the series, it felt like the right time to close this chapter. He also talked about his early days, long before Tekken became a worldwide hit. Back then, he supported small arcade tournaments and even carried arcade cabinets by himself to local events. He would ask people to try Tekken and speak directly with players, and those early conversations shaped him as a creator.

Katsuhiro Harada leaves Bandai Namco at the end of the year

The original Tekken debuted in Japanese arcades on December 9, 1994. It had a worldwide launch the following year.

In his message, Harada said that these experiences stayed with him even after Tekken became a global tournament game. Fans continued to treat him like a friend, whether it was at big events or at the bar after a show. He also opened up about losing close friends in recent years, both in his personal and professional life. Seeing older colleagues retire or pass away made him think more seriously about how much time he has left as a creator. He even sought advice from Ken Kutaragi, a major figure in the gaming industry, whose guidance helped him make the decision to leave.

Harada explained that during the last four to five years, he has slowly handed over all of his responsibilities to the team. This includes story, worldbuilding, and the overall direction of Tekken, so this transition has been far from sudden. He said he feels lucky to have worked on so many different projects, such as Summer Lesson, Pokken Tournament, and the SoulCalibur series.

Even though Harada is leaving at the end of 2025, he confirmed that Bandai Namco has invited him to the Tekken World Tour Finals in January 2026. He plans to appear as a guest. He also shared something special with fans: a 60-minute Tekken DJ-style nonstop mix that he personally edited. He said it brings back many memories and is his way of saying thanks after 30 years.

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Abdul Haddi

Abdul is a tech writer and Editor for PC Guide, specializing in all things tech, gaming, and hardware.