### Katsuhiro Harada’s Departure from Bandai Namco: A Milestone for Tekken

Long-time director and producer of the **Tekken** series, Katsuhiro Harada, has announced that he will be stepping away from Bandai Namco at the end of 2025. His departure coincides with the 30th anniversary of the iconic fighting game franchise, a project to which Harada has dedicated a substantial part of his life. Before his exit, he is scheduled for one final guest appearance at the Tekken World Tour finals early next year.

In a heartfelt message shared on Twitter, Harada reflected on his decision, stating, “With the TEKKEN series reaching its 30th anniversary—an important milestone for a project I’ve devoted much of my life to—I felt this was the most fitting moment to bring one chapter to a close.” His announcement also touched on personal losses he has experienced in recent years, which prompted him to consider his time left as a creator. He cited the encouragement he received from former Sony Computer Entertainment CEO Ken Kutaragi as influential in his decision-making process.

Harada has been a pivotal figure in the development and growth of the Tekken franchise. In his recent communications, he shared that he has gradually been transitioning his responsibilities over the past five years to the broader Tekken team at Bandai Namco. This handover includes the stewardship of the Tekken stories and world, ensuring continuity for the series moving into the future.

In response to Harada’s announcement, Bandai Namco released a statement on behalf of the Tekken 8 development team, expressing gratitude for Harada’s contributions. The team reassured fans of their commitment to future development and content plans for **Tekken 8**, stating their dedication to honoring Harada’s vision and the legacy of the franchise.

As part of his farewell, Harada has also created an hour-long DJ mix that has been released on Soundcloud, titled *TEKKEN: A 30-Year Journey – Harada’s Final Mix*. He shared this mix as a way to commemorate his time with the franchise, explaining that he had always intended to perform live as a DJ at a Tekken tournament but never had the opportunity. The mix serves as a nostalgic reflection of his journey with the series.

Fans can listen to the DJ mix [here](https://soundcloud.com/katsuhiro-harada-1/tekken-a-30-year-journey-haradas-final-mix). Harada emphasized the importance of this compilation to him, stating that listening to it brings back many memories from his long tenure with Tekken.

As the Tekken community gears up to celebrate the franchise’s 30th anniversary alongside Harada’s departure, it is clear that his influence on fighting games will resonate for years to come, both in the legacy of Tekken and within the broader landscape of video game development.