Tekken boss Katsuhiro Harada has joined SNK

Katsuhiro Harada has left Bandai Namco after 31 years to co-found SNK VS Studio in Tokyo and serve as CEO.

The new studio is a partnership with SNK and will focus on action- and competitive play-driven games.

Harada said he may eventually work on SNK’s own fighting game IP, including major series like The King of Fighters or Samurai Shodown.

The venture also brings in former Tekken staff, including Yuichi Yonemori, strengthening expectations for a new wave of fighting games.