Tekken 8 game director Kohei Ikeda is leaving Bandai Namco after about 20 years with the company, according to multiple outlets. Ikeda is identified as the game director for Tekken 8 and, in some coverage, as also having a leadership role on Tekken 7. His departure comes after earlier leadership changes for the Tekken franchise: Katsuhiro Harada, described as the series head or key producer, left Bandai Namco last year. Harada has since been reported to have started a new studio, referred to as VS Studio, associated with SNK as the publisher for his new work.
So far, Ikeda’s public comments about his next steps are limited. He is reported to say he will continue taking on new challenges as a game developer, without detailing a specific employer or project. One outlet notes the possibility that Ikeda could follow Harada to a new fighting-game studio, but this is presented as speculation rather than confirmed information. The reports align that Ikeda’s exit is a personal career move following significant franchise leadership turnover at Bandai Namco.
