Former Tekken Director Katsuhiro Harada Joins SNK As CEO Of 'VS Studio'

• Fighting game veteran director joins SNK Corporation

• VS Studio will be Tokyo based

After spending over 30 years with Bandai Namco, the former head of the long-running Tekken series, Katsuhiro Harada has formed a brand new studio in conjunction with the Saudi-owned SNK Corporation. Towards the end of 2025, he stepped away from his position to potentially seek other ventures, and it was a matter of time to learn where he would end up. He will be the new CEO of VS Studio.

"We established this studio to bring this vision to life," Harada spoke in a short video on SNK's official YouTube channel. "The “VS” in VS Studio holds various meanings. It represents our roots in “Video game Soft (VS Development Division),” the spirit of “Versus” challenging tradition, and many other meanings symbolizing innovation and challenge, such as “Visionary Standard,” “Volition Shift,” and “Vanguard Spirit.”

Having been involved in game development for many years, I’ve constantly considered how I want to spend my time as a developer and what kind of environment allows developers to perform at their best. VS Studio is one answer to that question.

By bringing together technology and knowledge, and working with passionate colleagues, we aim to deliver the best gaming experiences to users worldwide. VS Studio aspires to be a studio that continues to take on such challenges, and we are looking for new team members who share our vision.

Please look forward to the future of VS Studio."

Yasayuki Oda, a veteran game designer and director for SNK, shared his statement on Harada joining the King of Fighters and Fatal Fury producer.

"I am extremely proud to welcome Mr. Katsuhiro Harada, who has been a long-time friend and a worthy rival to us, into our group. We’ve long discussed the hypothetical scenario of working together, and now that dream has become a reality. To be honest, nothing has been decided yet, but I have no doubt that things will become even more exciting than ever before. We look forward to your continued support for SNK and VS Studio."

What will VS Studio specialize in with the SNK brand? Little is known, naturally. But Harada's experience in game development, marketing and eSports management, and may be very viable for SNK. While the pre launch of Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves saw a huge multi-media marketing campaign that included adding soccer players and a DJ to the active roster, as well as using social media influencers to commercials, the game has been a disappointment in sales, despite the praise for its excellent gameplay. SNK CEO Kenta Matsuraba stepped away from his position following the commercial failure. Content is still regularly released for it, however.

VS Studio is still recruiting talent, but one of the other key staff members will be Yuichi Yonemori, a former Bandai Namco staffer who's work includes Tekken 7, Tekken Tag Tournament, and SoulCalibur.