Tekken Director Harada Not Seeking New Employment

Tekken's Harada Seeking New Opportunities on LinkedIn

Rumors of Exit from Bandai Namco

Katsuhiro Harada, the renowned director behind the Tekken series, has sparked rumors of potentially leaving Bandai Namco after 30 years. This speculation arose after Japanese video game news account Genki_JPN shared a screenshot on X (formerly Twitter) of Harada's LinkedIn profile. In a recent post, Harada indicated he is #OpenToWork and seeking new positions such as Executive Producer, Game Director, Business Development, Vice President, or a Marketing role, all based in Tokyo. This announcement has caused concern among fans about his future and the direction of the Tekken franchise.

Harada Clarifies His Intentions

Quick to address the swirling rumors, Harada, known for his active presence on social media, used X to clarify his situation. He reassured fans that he is not leaving Bandai Namco. Instead, Harada explained that he is looking to expand his professional network and meet more people within the industry. "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," he stated. By enabling the #OpenToWork feature on LinkedIn, Harada aims to facilitate more industry connections.

This clarification brings relief to Tekken enthusiasts, who can now look forward to potential growth and exciting collaborations for the franchise. The recent collaboration between Tekken 8 and Final Fantasy 16, featuring Clive Rosfield as a playable character along with skins and accessories of other FF16 characters like Jill, Joshua, and even Nektar the Moogle, is a testament to the creative direction Harada continues to pursue. With an expanded network, fans can anticipate even more innovative additions and partnerships for the beloved series.