Tekken’s Harada Addresses Career Speculation Following Social Media Buzz

Long-time Tekken producer Katsuhiro Harada has stepped forward to address speculation about his potential departure from Bandai Namco. The rumors began circulating after changes to his LinkedIn profile caught the attention of gaming industry observers.

The confusion started when Harada added an “#opentowork” hashtag to his professional profile, leading some to believe he was seeking employment opportunities outside Bandai Namco. Gaming outlet Genki initially reported on the development, but has since retracted their post following Harada’s explanation that he simply wishes to expand his professional network and engage with more industry peers.

Harada’s connection to the Tekken franchise runs deep, dating back to the series’ inception. He began his journey by lending his voice to characters in the original Tekken before taking the director’s chair with Tekken 3. His consistent presence has been a cornerstone of the franchise’s development over the years.

The timing of these rumors is particularly noteworthy as Tekken 8 continues its active development cycle. The game recently received its patch 1.11 update and welcomed Final Fantasy 16’s protagonist Clive to its roster. Looking ahead, the development team is already preparing for Season 2, scheduled for spring 2025.

While Harada has previously discussed his long-term future with the series, suggesting he might have one more Tekken title in his career due to age considerations and Japanese development culture, any immediate concerns about his departure appear unfounded. Given the typical development cycle between mainline Tekken games – with nearly ten years between Tekken 7 and 8 – Harada could potentially remain involved with the series well into the 2030s.