Tekken 8 Director Parts Ways With Bandai Namco After Two Decades
Kohei Ikeda exited the company six months after Katsuhiro Harada's departure.
In his farewell post on X/Twitter, Kohei Ikeda thanked fans, colleagues, and members of the Fighting Game Community, reflecting on his path from arcade player to game developer.
Over the years, Ikeda contributed to both Soulcalibur and Tekken, eventually becoming a central figure in Tekken's development alongside Katsuhiro Harada and Michael Murray, and most recently served as Game Director and Development Producer for Tekken 8. Released in 2024, Tekken 8 received strong reviews at launch, and although its reputation took a hit over time, recent updates have been welcomed by fans.
"While my role leading the team as Game Director is coming to a close, the values that both I personally and the Tekken Project have always cherished, staying close to the fans and the community, and building the game together with everyone, will never change.
I have entrusted those values, and that baton, to the incredible team that will continue shaping the future of Tekken. As I look forward to the future of Tekken and the FGC, I will also continue taking on new challenges as a game developer," wrote Ikeda.
Bandai Namco
The news comes about six months after Katsuhiro Harada departed Bandai after 31 years with the company, and only weeks after he announced the opening of a new studio.
Harada shared that his decision to leave was influenced by the loss of several close friends in recent years, as well as the retirement or passing of many senior colleagues, which led him to reflect on how much time he has left as a creator. Harada's VS Studio appears to be in active recruitment, and Yuichi Yonemori, previously involved in the Tekken series as well, has already joined the team.
Will Kohei Ikeda be joining the studio as well? Subscribe to our Newsletter, join our 80 Level Talent platform, follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Telegram, and Instagram, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.
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