Sid

@Harada_TEKKEN Get ready for the next battle! You’re no “Chicken!,” Harada-san. Tekken is a top-notch fighter thanks to you. We’ll always remember your hard work and contributions to the fighting game community.

I’d like to share that I’ll be leaving Bandai Namco at the end of 2025. With the TEKKEN series reaching its 30th anniversary—an important milestone for a project I’ve devoted much of my life to—I felt this was the most fitting moment to bring one chapter to a close. My roots lie in the days when I supported small local tournaments in Japanese arcades and in small halls and community centers overseas. I still remember carrying arcade cabinets by myself, encouraging people to “Please try TEKKEN,” and directly facing the players right in front of me. The conversations and atmosphere we shared in those places became the core of who I am as a developer and game creator. Even as the times changed, those experiences have remained at the center of my identity. And even after the tournament scene grew much larger, many of you continued to treat me like an old friend—challenging me at venues, inviting me out for drinks at bars. Those memories are also deeply precious to me. In recent years, I experienced the loss of several close friends in my personal life, and in my professional life I witnessed the retirement or passing of many senior colleagues whom I deeply respect. Those accumulated events made me reflect on the “time I have left as a creator.” During that period, I sought advice from Ken Kutaragi—whom I respect as though he were another father—and received invaluable encouragement and guidance. His words quietly supported me in making this decision. Over the past four to five years, I’ve gradually handed over all of my responsibilities, as well as the stories and worldbuilding I oversaw, to the team, bringing me to the present day. Looking back, I was fortunate to work on an extraordinary variety of projects—VR titles (such as Summer Lesson), Pokkén Tournament, the SoulCalibur series, and many others, both inside and outside the company. Each project was full of new discoveries and learning, and every one of them became an irreplaceable experience for me. To everyone who has supported me, to communities around the world, and to all the colleagues who have walked alongside me for so many years, I offer my deepest gratitude. I’ll share more about my next steps at a later date. Thank you very much for everything. 【Postscript】 Although I will be leaving the company at the end of 2025, Bandai Namco has asked me to appear at the TWT Finals at the end of January 2026, so I expect to attend as a guest. For 30 years I kept saying, “I’ll do it someday,” and never once performed as a DJ at a tournament event. So instead, I will be releasing—for the first and last time—a 60-minute TEKKEN DJ-style nonstop mix (DJ mix), personally edited by myself, together with this announcement. Listening to it brings back many memories. Thank you again, sincerely, for all these years. ‘TEKKEN: A 30-Year Journey – Harada’s Final Mix’ by Katsuhiro Harada 1 is on #SoundCloud on.soundcloud.com/pEYofA4yXOwyC7… December 8, 2025 - The Final Day of TEKKEN’s 30th Anniversary - Katsuhiro Harada [日本語版 (Japanese version)] このたび、2025年末をもちまして、私はバンダイナムコを退職することにいたしました。 長く携わってきた『鉄拳』シリーズが30周年という大きな節目を迎え、ひとつの区切りとして最もふさわしい時期であると考えたためです。 私の原点は、日本のゲームセンターや、海外コミュニティの小さな講堂やコミュニティセンターで、まだ小規模なトーナメントをサポートしていた時代にあります。 アーケード筐体を自ら運び込み、「鉄拳もぜひ遊んでみてほしい」と声をかけながら、目の前の参加者と向き合った日々。 あの場で交わした言葉や空気が、私という開発者の核を形作りました。 時代が変化しても、あの経験が自分の中心にあります。 そしてトーナメントシーンが大きく成長した後も、皆さんは旧知の友人のように私に声をかけ、会場で対戦したり、バーで『一緒に飲もう』と誘ってくれました。 それらもまた、大切な思い出です。 ここ数年間、私生活においては友人達との死別があり、仕事においては、私が尊敬する多くの先輩方の引退や逝去に触れてきました。 そうした出来事の積み重ねが、私に『開発者として残された時間』について考える契機を与えました。 その過程で、私がもう一人の父親のように敬愛する久夛良木健さんにも相談し、貴重な助言と励ましのお言葉をいただきました。 この言葉もまた、今回の決断を静かに後押しするものとなりました。 そして、この4〜5年をかけて私の担ってきたすべての業務やストーリーや世界観、そして責務をチームに段階的に引き継ぎ、今日に至ります。 振り返れば、VR作品（サマーレッスンなど）や『ポッ拳』、ソウルキャリバーシリーズをはじめ、自社他社問わず数多くのプロジェクトに携わる機会に恵まれました。 いずれのプロジェクトも新しい発見と学びに満ち、かけがえのない経験となりました。 これまで支えてくださった皆様、世界中のコミュニティの皆様、そして長年ともに歩んできた仲間たちに深く感謝申し上げます。 次の歩みについては、改めて皆様にお伝えいたします。 これからも、どうぞよろしくお願いいたします。 +あとがき 2025年末をもって退職致しますが、2026年1月末のTWT FINALには顔を出してほしいと会社からお願いされていることもあり、FINALにはゲストとして顔を出すと思います。 これまで30年間『いつかやるよ』と言い続けてやってこなかったトーナメントイベントでのDJですが、その代わりとして“最初で最後のDJ風60分ノンストップ鉄拳ミックス（私による初編集DJ mix）”も、今回のポストに合わせて公開します。 ‘TEKKEN: A 30-Year Journey – Harada’s Final Mix’ by Katsuhiro Harada 1 is on #SoundCloud on.soundcloud.com/pEYofA4yXOwyC7… 様々な思い出が蘇ります。改めて皆さんありがとうございました。 2025年12月8日 - 鉄拳30周年最終日 - Katsuhiro Harada

Master Chief comes to PlayStation. Halo: Campaign Evolved launches on PS5 next year, rebuilt and modernized with 2-player local co-op and 4-player online co-op: play.st/4oAYnr5

@noobde Oh and as a kid, I totally sent away for the soundtrack CDs advertised in MK1-3. Still have my MK2!

@noobde Amazing run, Dan's audio work is legendary. The first four MK games thundered through the arcade environment with those deep, rumbling voice samples and urgent music. Completely agree that Dan's work was instrumental to the series' success and wish him very well in his retirement

After an incredible 37 year career, on October 1st, Dan Forden (1/4 of the original Mortal Kombat team) began his well earned retirement. I cannot overstate the impact Dan has made on pinball, videogames, NetherRealm & especially Mortal Kombat. A significant part of the first Mortal Kombat's identity was in its tone, mystique and outrageous presentation. Remember the first time you saw & heard an uppercut? The explosive impact.. The announcer's wicked laugh.. The "DUN DUN DUN" before a fatality? Remember the amazing music that defined the atmosphere of the fighting arenas? That was all Dan. You may also know him as the (now infamous) "Toasty Guy" but Dan's audio single handedly created a literal atmosphere that played a major role in the feel and vibe of Mortal Kombat. Please watch and (more importantly) listen to this video. Anything sound familiar? Bring back any memories? I hope you'll join us in thanking Dan for his amazing contributions to MK, and games in general.

SNIKT! Marvel's Wolverine launches Fall 2026 on PS5. Watch the first ferocious gameplay trailer: play.st/3ICkrT0

New info on grotesque first-person horror game ILL: play.st/4lpLcrZ 🧟 60fps monster animations 🧳 Inventory management 🔎 Resource scavenging 🛠️ Weapon upgrading 💀 Boss fights

Grotesque bodily terrors await in ILL Watch the reveal trailer for Team Clout's abominable first-person horror game, if you dare: play.st/4l5jrEJ

Live now! play.st/3HIuxAO

@bryanintihar I would like to Learn More

Predator: Killer of Killers is one of the best films of the year. The action is incredible, the visuals are outstanding, yet it’s the surprising amount of heart that makes it a must-watch.

@DanAmrich @DigitalEclipse Oh thank you! It was quite a treat 😊

Want more info on Mortal Kombat: Legacy Collection? Our Editorial Director Chris Kohler has written a good primer for PlayStation Blog -- check it out. #MKLK blog.playstation.com/2025/06/04/mor…

@McCarron @DanAmrich @DigitalEclipse Yeah it’s wild. Those were the daaaays (I was 15 lol)

@sidshuman @DanAmrich @DigitalEclipse Haha thanks it's still very weird. Thanks for the great intro, I knew it was next when you said "Nothing can prepare you." Lots of OG Critics Choice folks at work here! Love to see it 30 years later!

I was honored to be invited to be part of a group of fans called the "Advisory Kouncil" to help @danamrich & @DigitalEclipse make this ambitious Kollection just right. Can't wait to see the end result, as I know the fans are going to love it!

@Lee5 Farm fresh fixin’s. Hi Lee!

Love seeing my farm fresh king @sidshuman on the PlayStation #StateOfPlay!!

@DanAmrich @KerriAnnGallery Congrats!!

@garfep Can’t wait!

please watch our video next month, it’s going to be very cool and special and have lots of neat stuff in it 🐺⚔️

State of Play returns tomorrow, June 4! Watch live at 2pm PT / 11pm CEST on YouTube and Twitch for news and updates on great games coming to PS5: play.st/45CtiNy

The show starts in 30 minutes! play.st/twitch play.st/youtubeBL4

Explore an evolving estate in Blue Prince 🏠 The genre-bending puzzle adventure launches on PS5 today as part of the PlayStation Plus Games Catalog: play.st/4lHJ8ML

We at Housemarque are thrilled to announce SAROS. Come back stronger. 2026. youtu.be/Rhj4r0y11os