Katsuhiro Harada was not a developer like any other. He was a figure, a recognizable face with his dark glasses, his outspokenness and his sincere closeness to the community. Over the years, he has become the guardian of the soul of Tekken, while participating in numerous side projects like Soul Calibur, Pokkén Tournament or even Summer Lesson.
Joining Namco in the 1990s, he rose through the ranks to become director of Tekken 3considered by many to be a masterpiece of the genre. The game has sold more than 8 million copies on PlayStation, surpassing titles like Tomb Raider or Resident Evil 2.
The deeper reasons for a thoughtful departure
In a message posted on social media, Harada said he had been marked by several deaths and retirements around him, which led him to reflect on his own trajectory. “These accumulated events have led me to reflect on ‘the time I have left as a creator’.”
The transmission seems to have been thought of in advance. “Over the past four to five years, I’ve gradually handed over all of my responsibilities, as well as the stories and universe building I was overseeing, to the team.”
He also highlights the importance of the advice received from Ken Kutaragi, the “father of PlayStation”, who helped him reach this personal milestone.
Recent tensions surrounding Tekken 8
The relationship between Harada and Bandai Namco has not always been peaceful in recent years. When leaving Tekken 8a controversy broke out around the sale of a premium DLC stage. Harada, often on the front line on the networks, had recognized structural errors in the distribution of roles between developers and publishers.
Despite these tensions, Tekken 8 got off to a solid start, with 3 million copies sold in one year. But the lack of communication on a future season 3 leaves doubt about the immediate future of the franchise.
Harada doesn’t hang up his gloves
If he leaves Bandai Namco, Harada is not leaving the world of video games. His statement concluded with an implicit promise: “I will share my next steps at a later date.”
It’s a safe bet that he will continue his path elsewhere, perhaps at the head of a new independent studio, or in another structure, like other emblematic figures like Hideo Kojima.
In any case, Harada’s departure symbolizes the end of an era, but also the beginning of another – where we will closely follow each future project of this creator who has forever marked the history of video games.