Recent buzz in the gaming community has centered around Katsuhiro Harada, the renowned director of the Tekken series, who has sparked rumors of a potential departure from Bandai Namco after 30 years. The speculation began when Harada updated his LinkedIn profile to indicate he is #OpenToWork, looking for new opportunities in roles such as Executive Producer, Game Director, Business Development, Vice President, or Marketing positions, all based in Tokyo. This move was quickly noticed and shared by the Japanese video game news account Genki_JPN on X (formerly known as Twitter), prompting a wave of concern among Tekken fans about the future of the iconic fighting game series.
However, Harada was quick to address and dispel these rumors on X, where he is known for his active engagement with the community. He clarified that he is not leaving Bandai Namco but is instead looking to expand his professional network and collaborate with more individuals in 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 explained. By activating the #OpenToWork feature on LinkedIn, Harada aims to connect with a broader range of professionals, which he believes will enhance his work and potentially lead to exciting new developments for the Tekken series.
This clarification from Harada should reassure fans, especially given recent successful collaborations like the one between Tekken 8 and Final Fantasy 16, which introduced protagonist Clive Rosfield as a new fighter and featured other characters like Jill and Joshua, along with Nektar the Moogle, through skins and accessories. Harada's efforts to broaden his network are likely to bring fresh ideas and collaborations to the franchise, promising an even more vibrant future for Tekken enthusiasts.
