Harada Stays with Tekken, No Job Hunt

Speculation has been swirling around Tekken series director Katsuhiro Harada after he updated his LinkedIn profile to indicate he's seeking new job opportunities. This move has led to rumors of a potential departure from Bandai Namco, where he has spent the last three decades and helped create the iconic Tekken franchise. The news first surfaced when the Japanese gaming news account Genki_JPN shared a screenshot of Harada's LinkedIn update on X (formerly Twitter). In his recent post, Harada expressed his interest in new roles such as Executive Producer, Game Director, Business Development, Vice President, or Marketing positions, all based in Tokyo. This has sparked concern among fans about the future of the Tekken series, evident from the numerous comments seeking confirmation directly from Harada.

However, Harada, known for his active engagement on social media, quickly addressed the rumors on X (Twitter). He clarified that he is not planning to leave Bandai Namco and that his LinkedIn update was simply a way to connect and collaborate with more professionals in the industry. He explained, "I meet a lot of people on a regular basis (but I don't actually have that many friends in my private world LOL), I just want to meet more people and expand my horizons in the future." By turning on the #OpenToWork option on LinkedIn, Harada aims to engage with a broader network of industry peers.

This development is a relief for Tekken fans, who can now look forward to the continued growth and potential new collaborations for the series. The recent collaboration between Tekken 8 and Final Fantasy 16, which introduced protagonist Clive Rosfield as a playable character along with skins and accessories featuring other FF16 characters like Jill, Joshua, and even Nektar the Moogle, is a testament to the exciting direction the franchise is heading. With Harada expanding his professional network, fans can anticipate even more innovative and diverse additions to the Tekken universe.