Few names carry as much weight in the fighting game world as Katsuhiro Harada. The man behind TEKKEN spent over three decades at Bandai Namco Entertainment before stepping away at the end of 2025, a move that sent shockwaves through the gaming community. Not long after, SNK announced that Harada would be leading a brand-new development studio called VS Studio SNK Co., Ltd., established on May 2026, and headquartered in Shinagawa, Tokyo.

We had the chance to talk with Harada for an exclusive interview, where he opened up about the transition, what VS Studio is about, and where he sees things heading from here.

A New Chapter That Caught Everyone Off Guard

The reaction to Harada’s move was immediate and loud. Fans flooded social media with congratulations, surprise, and no small amount of excitement. Some people even jumped to the conclusion that Harada had simply “joined SNK” as a regular hire, which he was quick to address.

“Some people even thought ‘Harada has joined SNK,’ so I felt it was important to clear up that misunderstanding,” he said with a laugh.

“While we are structured as a subsidiary of SNK, we are not a 100% subsidiary, so our independence is guaranteed.”

That distinction matters to him. VS Studio operates under SNK’s umbrella but maintains a level of creative and organizational independence. The overall reception, however, was something he clearly appreciated. “The response after the announcement was truly wonderful, with so many congratulatory messages and reactions filled with surprise and anticipation,” he said.

As for the weight of expectation that naturally follows a move this big, Harada seemed more energized than burdened by it.

“Rather than feeling the weight of expectations, I feel that the many comments everyone has sent have made the expectations tangible. I am very grateful for that.”

Lessons From TEKKEN, But No Rigid Playbook

Harada has been part of the TEKKEN franchise from its very beginning, and it is hard to imagine that over 30 years of work on one of gaming’s most iconic series would not leave some kind of mark on how he approaches development. But when asked about carrying over design philosophies into future projects, he was refreshingly straightforward.

“I don’t have anything that could be called a philosophy. However, I can say that we approach development with a clear vision.”

It is a subtle but important distinction. Rather than operating from a fixed set of rules, Harada seems to prefer letting each project define its own direction.

One area where his TEKKEN experience does come into play is his understanding of what separates 2D and 3D fighting games. Given that SNK has a deep history in 2D fighters with franchises like The King of Fighters and Samurai Shodown, the question of whether the two approaches could be merged into something new is a natural one. Harada, however, was careful not to oversimplify it.

“2D and 3D fighting games are actually quite different, even though they’re both in the same genre. The more you learn about them, the more surprising it seems that they’re even discussed under the same genre; 2D and 3D fighting games are truly that different.”

He was equally direct about the idea of simply merging the two styles together mechanically. In his words, it is not a case of gameplay and game mechanics conveniently fusing together. But rather than closing the door on collaboration entirely, he pointed to something more organic.

“If I have more opportunities to interact with SNK’s creators in the future, I believe we can mutually inspire each other, and that will open up a variety of new possibilities.”

Building the Studio From the Ground Up

The studio name and Harada’s background make it easy to assume VS Studio’s first project will be a fighting game. He did not dismiss that idea entirely, but he did push back on the assumption from the start. “I’m not necessarily saying that the titles I’ll be creating will be fighting games,” he noted plainly. When pressed further on genre direction, he gave a broader answer.

“Our focus is primarily on competitive action games, but at this point, we are not overly limiting ourselves to a specific genre and will explore new possibilities as well.”

So while competitive action is clearly the foundation, the door appears to be open for something that does not fit neatly into existing genre categories.

Running a new studio comes with real-world challenges, especially at a time when game development costs have risen sharply. Harada acknowledged that VS Studio is still in the process of setting itself up properly, but expressed confidence that it has enough to work with.

“We still have a long way to go in creating the right environment, so I can’t go into details like the size of the studio, but it’s large enough for me to realize what I want to achieve,” he said.

On the question of whether VS Studio will build a new IP or work with SNK’s existing library of franchises, Harada kept things close to the chest. “We are not yet at a stage where we can share information. We will inform you again when we are able to make an announcement.” Both directions remain on the table for now.

Staying Connected to the Community

One thing that has defined Harada’s career beyond his development work is how openly he engages with fans. It is a style that has earned him a dedicated following well beyond typical game developer recognition. That relationship with the community, he says, is not just for show.

“We always value meeting the expectations of the fan community,” he said. And for him, that value runs deeper than just listening to feedback.

“We believe that whether or not we genuinely enjoy developing the game ultimately benefits both the users and the developers.”

It is a straightforward idea: when the team is genuinely invested in what they are making, the people playing it feel that. For Katsuhiro Harada, that connection between developer enthusiasm and player experience is not secondary, it is central to how good games get made. With VS Studio now officially up and running, the industry will be watching closely. Harada is not saying much yet about what comes next, but if his track record is any indication, it will be worth the wait.