Katsuhiro Harada, former chief of the Tekken franchise, is lastly revealing some particulars about his subsequent sport at present within the works at his impartial growth home, VS Studio.
Harada famously exited Bandai Namco earlier this yr, leaving his decades-long submit on the firm as Tekken’s guiding drive to make his personal studio. A subsidiary of SNK, VS Studio has been slowly constructing its ranks over the previous couple of months, snagging a number of former members of Tekken’s key growth workers.
And whereas he’s been fairly quiet about what precisely VS Studio is cooking up, he shed some mild on its present tasks in a September 2026 interview with VideoGamesChronicle, and it’s tentatively wanting like excellent news for followers of his earlier video games.
When requested if VS Studio’s subsequent sport could be a preventing sport, or if the event home goals to be a “genre-agnostic” firm, Harada had this to say: “What I can say is that there are some members who I’ve labored with previously who’ve joined the corporate, however that is purely voluntary.
“…the title that we’re creating has not been disclosed, however as I mentioned earlier, I don’t wish to betray our followers’ expectations. The sport that we’re creating will likely be some type of shock, however relaxation assured, it’s not one thing that’s exterior of expectations,” he answered.
Whereas this assertion doesn’t affirm something, it does level to the truth that Harada is making one thing that’s at the least considerably within the realm of what followers expect — and that, to us, sounds a lot like a preventing sport. (It is also price noting that Harada himself mentioned he wanted to develop a new fighting game in an interview with Den-fami Nico Gamer after the information of VS Studio was first introduced.) Whether or not it’s a completely new IP or a new installment of an current franchise stays to be seen, however SNK’s chief publishing officer, Ozan Kocoglu, says VS Studio isn’t against each making unique titles and increasing on their earlier works.
“I believe it may be each. I don’t suppose we must be restricted to at least one highway or the opposite. I believe Harada-san can convey a wealth of expertise into supporting our current IPs in rising in a totally different means, or going to the subsequent stage alongside individuals like Oda-san. However on the identical time, as SNK is rising to turn out to be a lot larger and a new firm, we additionally want recent concepts,” he mentioned.
“We additionally have to construct new IP pillars that, you recognize, he may very well be engaged on, in order that they’ll really enrich the SNK portfolio past what we’ve. I undoubtedly see Harada-san with the ability to do each, and it’ll rely upon what he desires to do and the way, and particularly on which IP he may collaborate on with a few of our growth leads sooner or later.”
Kocoglu revealed that SNK is in a interval of “aggressive progress,” saying the corporate wants a “recent perspective” with a view to preserve shifting ahead. He additionally sees “no motive” why VS Studio must be a “one-off” for SNK, calling Harada a “welcome addition by way of DNA with what we’ve been constructing to date.”
“However can we wish to cease at solely VS Studio? I don’t suppose that’s the thought. I believe it’s going to be, okay, what are the brand new alternatives we are able to discover available in the market? How can we wish to develop as a firm? Personally, I believe SNK has a robust DNA in action-related video games. So anybody who makes an action-related venture may probably be a part of us sooner or later on a case-by-case foundation,” he added.
Harada went on to say that VS Studio has a “very excessive degree of freedom,” and that whereas the crew can “create something we would like,” they’re nonetheless beholden to what followers and gamers count on of them.
“What I wish to shield is what I’m good at, in addition to meet the expectations that my followers have. On prime of that, I additionally wish to collaborate with SNK. We are able to share the online game experience that we’ve and improve our strengths for each of us by way of the methods to create video video games. So, specializing in what I’m good at, preserving in thoughts participant expectations as effectively, and having shut collaboration with SNK,” he mentioned.
Harada additionally opened up about his ideas on the way forward for the Tekken franchise now that he’s left Bandai Namco, revealing that he’s been mentoring current members of its workers whereas he works to develop VS Studio.
“I’ve no data of what Tekken has in retailer after my departure, so I believe it could be nice for those who may all attain out to Bandai Namco. For now, I can solely speculate, like how followers are speculating as effectively. However one factor I can say is that I’ve been working laborious to mentor the crew members of Tekken, and I can assure that the members who’re nonetheless engaged on it have advanced and grown. So I’m wanting ahead to the way forward for Tekken as a fan.”
Tekken 8, it appears, is becoming a member of the ranks of different mainline preventing video games who’re including wildcard visitor characters to their rosters, with Baki’s Yujiro Hanma set to hitch the combat in early 2027. We bought the prospect to interview Tekken collection chief producer Naoya Yasuda about why the crew selected this character and the way on this planet they plan on balancing the sport across the ‘strongest man on earth’ when he lastly drops subsequent yr.
Picture Credit: SIA KAMBOU/AFP through Getty Photos
Virginia Glaze
Information Editor
Virginia (she/her) is IGN’s Information Editor. With ten years of expertise reporting on video games and leisure, she’s bought a storied background within the preventing sport neighborhood, influencer information, and viral on-line traits. Discover her on Twitter at @TheeMissGlaze.