Katsuhiro Harada, one of the most recognisable figures in fighting games, has officially left Bandai Namco, bringing an end to a 30-year career closely intertwined with the Tekken franchise.

Harada joined Namco in the mid-1990s and quickly became a defining force behind Tekken, serving as producer and director across multiple entries. Over the decades, he helped steer the series from its early arcade roots into one of the most successful and enduring fighting game franchises in the industry, spanning arcades, consoles, esports stages, and global tournaments.

Beyond development, Harada became a public face of Tekken itself. Known for his blunt honesty, sharp humour, and direct engagement with fans, he cultivated a rare level of visibility for a Japanese game director. Whether responding to community questions online or appearing on stage at major events, Harada’s presence helped shape Tekken’s identity as much as its mechanics did.

Under his leadership, the franchise evolved significantly. Tekken embraced deeper competitive systems, cinematic storytelling, extensive character rosters, and a renewed focus on global esports with titles like Tekken 7 and Tekken 8. The series consistently found ways to modernise without abandoning its core, a balance many fighting games struggle to maintain.

Bandai Namco has not yet announced who will assume Harada’s role moving forward, nor has Harada revealed his next steps. Whether he remains within the games industry or pursues something entirely new, his departure marks the end of an era not just for Tekken, but for fighting games as a whole.

Few developers leave behind a legacy as clear or as lasting. For three decades, Katsuhiro Harada didn’t just make Tekken he was Tekken.