Former Tekken Producer Katsuhiro Harada Joins SNK to Form New Fighting Game Focused Studio
Legendary video game producer Katsuhiro Harada has officially announced his next major career move following his departure from Bandai Namco Studio in late 2025.
The iconic creator behind the “Tekken” series has partnered with SNK to establish a brand new development company named “VS Studio SNK”.
This new venture operates as an independent studio rather than a direct internal department or a wholly-owned subsidiary of SNK.
The company sits firmly under the umbrella of the Electronic Gaming Development Company (EGDC), an investment firm serving as SNK’s parent company.
Harada has assumed the role of studio representative and president, though he emphasized a strong desire to return to his hands-on creative roots rather than focusing purely on corporate management.
The newly formed “VS Studio SNK” shares an office building with SNK in Meguro, Tokyo, allowing both teams to freely share knowledge, development environments, and staff resources.
Harada noted that the “VS” in the studio’s name carries multiple layers of meaning for the founders.
The letters represent “Versus” and “Vanguard Spirit,” while also serving as a nostalgic nod to the “VS Development Department” where Harada and his colleagues created their beloved fighting games in the past.
Joining Harada in this new endeavor is Yuichi Yonemori, a highly respected former colleague who previously helped shape the “Tekken” franchise.
Yonemori will serve in a crucial director capacity, bringing his extensive experience and strong industry connections to help recruit passionate talent to the new studio.
SNK producer Yasuyuki Oda played a vital role in forming this partnership, utilizing a close friendship with Harada that spans well over a decade.
The two fighting game veterans bonded over the years at various industry events and even visited aircraft carriers together in San Diego due to their shared interests.
When asked about his motivations for starting a new studio at this stage in his life, Harada reflected deeply on his remaining time as a creator.
Realizing that he has passed the midpoint of his life, he wanted to completely reset his environment and focus entirely on creating one to three final projects that truly align with his personal vision.
This profound realization was partly influenced by the sudden passing of “Dead or Alive” creator Tomonobu Itagaki in October 2025, serving as a stark reminder that time is limited.
Harada also cited forward-thinking advice from PlayStation creator Ken Kutaragi as a major inspiration to keep pushing boundaries without letting age dictate his ambitious goals.
The structural backing from SNK and EGDC allows Harada to bypass the usual grueling administrative hurdles of founding a startup.
This vital support network ensures he can dedicate his immediate focus directly to the creative process without spending years worrying about securing funding or managing complex back-office operations.
The studio aims to capture the deep passion and unique development methods of the 1990s and early 2000s, adapting those philosophies perfectly to suit modern gaming needs.
“VS Studio SNK” is currently focusing on building its internal development environment and has not yet announced its debut title.
The founders are actively seeking out talented creators to join their ranks as they prepare to unveil their new creative vision to the world.
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