Former Tekken Director Katsuhiro Harada Says His Next Game Will Be a ‘Surprise,’ But Not Outside Fans’ Expectations

Katsuhiro Harada, the former director of the Tekken franchise, has revealed that his next project at independent studio VS Studio will be a surprise, but it will not deviate from what fans are expecting. VS Studio, a subsidiary of SNK, has been building its team over the past few months by hiring former Tekken development staff.

Harada has been working with these employees on a new game, though the title has yet to be disclosed. He emphasized that his goal is to create something that meets fans' expectations while also offering a fresh experience. Although the exact nature of the project is unclear, Harada has previously expressed a desire to develop a new fighting game.

SNK's chief publishing officer, Ozan Kocoglu, stated that VS Studio is open to both creating new IPs and expanding existing ones. He believes Harada's experience will be valuable for both growing existing franchises and developing new ones. Kocoglu sees no reason why VS Studio cannot become a regular contributor to SNK's portfolio, and he sees Harada as a valuable addition to the company.

Harada has also been mentoring existing Tekken staff while he focuses on growing VS Studio. He expressed optimism about Tekken's future, stating that the team members have grown under his guidance and that he is looking forward to the franchise's future. Tekken 8 is set to release early 2027, featuring guest character Yujiro Hanma from the Baki series.