In a insane surprise, Tekken producer Katsuhiro Harada has made a decision as to where he’s going to go next. After his departure this yearfrom Namco Bandai after 31 years of several projects, mostly revolving around 3D fighting game Tekken, game developer SNK will be 55 yr old Haradasan’s new home. And that’s not all.
I have launched VS Studio.
Built on the knowledge and passion we have cultivated over many years on the front lines of game development, we are now beginning a new challenge.VS Studio を立ち上げました。… https://t.co/kvUhnTmfTx
— Katsuhiro Harada (@Harada_TEKKEN) May 12, 2026
Haradasan will be heading up his own part of the company in a studio called VS Studio. It seems to have many meanings, according to Haradasan. “‘Visionary Standard,’ ‘Volition Shift,’ and ‘Vanguard Spirit.'” “‘Beyond tradition, crafted to perfection.’ We will combine technology, sensibility, and world-class expertise to pursue the ultimate.”, Haradasan commented. As to what to show the public as their first forary: there is nothing as of yet. There is hope, though. Perhaps the team will stick to what their leader has shown alot of depth in – fighting games.
“By bringing together technology and knowledge, and working with passionate colleagues, we aim to deliver the best gaming experiences to users worldwide. VS Studio aspires to be a studio that continues to take on such challenges, and we are looking for new team members who share our vision. Please look forward to the future of VS Studio.” — Katsuhiro Harada
SNK was also pleased by the news and not afraid to show it.
“I am extremely proud to welcome Mr. Katsuhiro Harada, who has been a long-time friend and a worthy rival to us, into our group. We’ve long discussed the hypothetical scenario of working together, and now that dream has become a reality. To be honest, nothing has been decided yet, but I have no doubt that things will become even more exciting than ever before. We look forward to your continued support for SNK and VS Studio.” — Yasuyuki Oda, SNK Developer.
This seems to be a great transition in the making for Haradasan. SNK has several fighting game properties under its belt with a majority of them getting their start in the 90s such as Fatal Fury, Art of Fighting, King of Fighters, Samurai Showdown, and the more obscure likes of even SNK Gal Fighters and Ninja Masters. Haradasan’s contributions to the genre, through organizing the Fighting Game Developers Roundtable and his own podcast at one point – Harada’s Bar in which he interviews various devs, and SNK’s current slate may be the thing to stir him into a challenge. Haradasan’s ability to bring both the devs and fans together to discuss possibilities throughout his own twitter is immense and very helpful to help with understanding processes.
Meanwhile, SNK has been doing everything to keep the fuel alive. For instance, a massive slate of an undertaking for Season 2 of Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves and their DLC per month run. Samurai Showdown’s RPG and Art of Fighting’s new entry could be where this team will get its’ start. How the team fits with the KoF Team and what they will do in the long run could be hinted at here. Fighting Layer EX’s Arika will be tagging along for a project or two with SNK to revive forgottenIPs, also, according to EventHubs, which was announced in 2024.
Update: In the video, some eagle-eyed fans have seen something intriguing. During Katsuhiro Harada’s speech lies behind him a feint logo that resembles a certain franchise.
This could be a coincidence since The King of Fighters is an SNK property. Then again, this is the same guy who stated that a certain Tekken character was assumed dead. When it comes to these sorts of hints, Harada-san can’t be trusted.
