Madagascar Tekken Community Honor Harada's Exit With Tribute Video

Katsuhiro Harada has officially stepped down from his role as head of Tekken development at Bandai Namco, with Kohei Ikeda and Michael Murray taking over as a two-man leadership team to continue the series’ development.

As tributes poured in from across the fighting game community, the Madagascan Tekken community also joined in by sharing a video clip from a larger interview featuring both Harada and Ikeda. In the video, Harada speaks about some lighter topics, including his favorite Japanese anime and his most memorable culinary experience during his time in Madagascar.

Harada visited the African nation during the development of Tekken 8’s latest character, Miary Zo, who is canonically from Madagascar. The character drew significant attention upon reveal, particularly for her design and cultural inspiration, making Harada’s visit especially notable in retrospect.

Harada first announced his departure in early December 2025, a move that shocked much of the gaming world. Many have speculated that the passing of Dead or Alive creator Tomonobu Itagaki may have accelerated his decision, as Harada has previously spoken openly about mortality and his desire to spend more time with family.

Tekken 8 continues under the current project team, who recently shared a New Year’s message on social media wishing players well and promising more updates throughout 2026. While Season 2 has not been particularly well received, it has delivered four new characters, Anna Williams, Fahkumram, Armor King, and Miary Zo, alongside two new stages and multiple balance patches.

With Season 2 seemingly winding down, attention is already turning toward Season 3, which could prove to be a make-or-break moment for Tekken 8’s long-term future.