Harada Confirms: Not Seeking New Job at Tekken

Katsuhiro Harada, the renowned director behind the iconic Tekken series, has sparked rumors of a departure from Bandai Namco after 30 years with the company. The speculation began when Harada updated his LinkedIn profile to indicate he is #OpenToWork, seeking new opportunities in roles such as Executive Producer, Game Director, Business Development, Vice President, or Marketing, all based in Tokyo. This news, initially shared by the Japanese video game news account Genki_JPN on X (formerly Twitter), has caused concern among Tekken fans about the future of the series.

However, Harada, known for his active engagement on social media, quickly addressed these rumors. He clarified that he is not leaving Bandai Namco but is instead looking to expand his professional network and collaborate with more individuals in the industry. In a response to a fan on X, Harada stated, "I meet a lot of people on a regular basis (but I don't actually have that many friends in my private world LOL), I just want to meet more people and expand my horizons in the future." He explained that by marking himself as #OpenToWork on LinkedIn, he aims to facilitate more industry conversations.

With Harada's commitment to staying at Bandai Namco, fans can look forward to further developments and collaborations within the Tekken franchise. The recent collaboration between Tekken 8 and Final Fantasy 16, featuring protagonist Clive Rosfield and other characters like Jill, Joshua, and even Nektar the Moogle through skins and accessories, exemplifies the exciting possibilities that Harada's expanded network could bring to the series.