Kohei Ikeda, the former game director of Tekken 8, has officially joined VS Studio. This move marks a reunion with Katsuhiro Harada, the long-time Tekken producer who departed Bandai Namco in late 2025 to establish the new fighting game developer under SNK.
Leadership Transition
Ikeda’s transition to VS Studio follows his resignation from Bandai Namco, which occurred shortly after Harada’s departure. Ikeda confirmed the career move via social media, expressing enthusiasm for the prospect of developing new projects alongside former colleagues.
Studio Outlook
While VS Studio has now secured two high-profile veterans from the Tekken series, the team has not yet announced its debut title. As a studio operating under the SNK banner, the team is currently positioned as a new entity in the fighting game landscape, with further details on their production roadmap pending.
Quick Facts
- Key Personnel: Former Tekken 8 director Kohei Ikeda has joined VS Studio.
- Studio Affiliation: VS Studio was founded by Katsuhiro Harada under publisher SNK.
- Status: The studio is in the early stages of development; no debut project has been announced.