We don’t usually judge games by their sales figures around here, but it’s refreshing to see that perspective validated by a industry heavyweight. Katsuhiro Harada, the former face of Tekken and current CEO of SNK VS Studio, has taken to social media to push back against the industry’s obsession with bottom-line metrics, specifically when applied to the career of FromSoftware president Hidetaki Miyazaki.

The Value of the Long Game

Writing on Xitter in response to a fan, Harada highlighted Miyazaki’s “exceptionally unusual” career trajectory. Miyazaki entered the game industry after turning 30, missing the era when major studios held significant technological advantages in early polygon development. Before the global phenomenon of 2009's Demon's Souls, Miyazaki contributed to three Armored Core titles—games that Harada notes were only "OK-ish" by comparison.

Harada argues that these earlier projects, alongside FromSoftware’s deeper history dating back to 1994, were essential to the studio's eventual success. He points to the King's Field series—an action-RPG franchise not widely regarded at the time—as a clear precursor to the Souls universe, noting its "mazey world design and a pervasive air of gloom."

"Dark Souls didn’t suddenly become a massive success overnight," Harada asserted. "It was the result of everything Miyazaki and his team had built up through their previous titles."

Rebuking the "Moneymen"

Harada’s comments appear to be a pointed critique of industry executives who view development solely through the lens of earnings calls and spreadsheets. He expressed fatigue toward those who judge games exclusively by comparing production costs to sales figures, noting that such critics often lack the perspective of someone who has actually developed a game.

"There were so many people who couldn’t appreciate the journey or the growth of the developers themselves," Harada wrote. While he clarified that he is "NOT talking about the fan community," his frustration is palpable regarding how quickly attitudes toward Miyazaki have shifted. He noted that while Miyazaki now receives offers from all over the world, many of those come from individuals who only know the developer’s current status and seem to exhibit a "complete reversal in attitude" compared to the days when the team was struggling.

A Warning on Industry Brain Drain

The sentiment arrives at a volatile time for the industry, which is currently grappling with a significant loss of veteran talent. Harada’s defense of the "journey" serves as a counterpoint to the recent trend of studio restructuring—such as the recent decision by Sony to cut over half of the Destiny 2 team at Bungie. While such decisions are often justified through the "icy prisms of revenue and cost projections," Harada’s stance reminds us that this approach discards centuries of accumulated expertise that cannot simply be bought back once the bottom line improves.