Harada Sends Out Goodbye Message As He Exits Bandai Namco

Katsuhiro Harada, the longtime creative force behind the Tekken series, shocked many fans when he announced that he would be leaving Bandai Namco at the end of 2025.

With just hours remaining before the calendar turned to 2026, Harada was still officially a Bandai Namco employee and took part in Famitsu’s annual end-of-year interview series, where over 100 Japanese game developers shared their reflections on the year ahead.

During his interview, Harada expressed deep gratitude to everyone who has supported him throughout his career and hinted that he will soon reveal what lies ahead for him next.

In his own words, he said:

“The beginning of a new journey! As announced, I am retiring from Bandai Namco amicably and moving on to a new path.
I started my career by telling my boss at the time that I would give it 10 years, but before I knew it, I had been fighting for 31 years.”

Harada has long been regarded as one of the most influential figures in the fighting game community and is widely loved by both fans and colleagues. In recent years, however, he has spoken openly about his reflections on life, particularly in light of the passing of several industry peers. The death of Tomonobu Itagaki, in particular, reportedly had a profound impact on him, with Harada announcing his retirement not long after.

As the mastermind behind one of the most successful fighting game franchises in history, Harada’s next move naturally carries immense interest. Given the passion and personality he has shown throughout his career, few doubt that whatever he chooses to do next will be something truly special.