Harada Launches SNK VS Studio in Tokyo After 31 Years at Bandai Namco

10 articles · Updated · Video Games Chronicle · May 12

Tokyo-based SNK VS Studio was unveiled Tuesday with former Tekken producer Katsuhiro Harada as CEO, marking his first venture after leaving Bandai Namco at the end of 2025.
31 years at Bandai Namco and Harada’s reflection on the “time I have left as a creator” drove the move, with the new studio pitched as a freer development environment focused on “Beyond tradition, crafted to perfection.”
Harada said his future games will stay rooted in action and competitive player-versus-player design, though he stopped short of confirming any work on SNK franchises because nothing has been decided.
Yuichi Yonemori, director of Tekken Tag Tournament 1 and 2, has already joined as chief creative officer, while Harada said the studio is still recruiting staff.
The tie-up links Tekken’s longtime leader with an SNK that owns fighting-game series including The King of Fighters and Fatal Fury, after Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves reportedly underperformed last year.

Will Tekken's creator use SNK's backing to challenge his old series with a new 3D fighting game?

Can a new studio led by a fighting game legend truly escape the industry's cycle of long delays and high costs?

With Saudi funding, will Harada's new studio redefine SNK's legacy or become a vehicle for soft power?