Tekken 8 Says Goodbye To Producer & Assistant Director

Yohei Shimbori, a producer and assistant director on the Tekken 8 project, has announced that he will be leaving Bandai Namco at the end of August.

Shimbori shared the news in a social media post, describing his role as an “out-game element designer” and expressing gratitude for the support he received during his time at the company. In a follow-up post, he said he would not be disclosing the reasons behind his departure but noted that the move would allow him to work more freely and take on new challenges.

Before his involvement with Tekken 8, Shimbori was best known for his work on Dead or Alive 5 and Dead or Alive 6. His exact contributions to Tekken 8 remain unclear, and while some fans reacted negatively to his announcement, given current frustrations with the game, others highlighted his statement about building on his strengths in future projects as a positive sign for the 3D fighting game genre.

Tekken 8 has faced heavy criticism since the release of its second season, with sweeping balance changes leaving many players feeling the game is vastly different from what was initially presented. The competitive environment has kept professional players invested despite these issues. More recently, controversy arose around the new character Miary Zo, a fighter from Madagascar. Some players argued that the design did not authentically reflect the heritage Bandai Namco claimed, while others from Madagascar noted that the nation’s diverse roots include African, Asian, and Indian influences. Regardless of the debate, Zo marks the first openly African character in the franchise, a milestone that has been celebrated by many African fans of Tekken.