Tekken 7 and 8 director Kohei Ikeda has joined VS Studio, the new SNK-owned developer run by former Tekken series producer Katsuhiro Harada.
Harada announced in May that he had formed a new studio with SNK, following his exit from Bandai Namco after more than 31 years.
VS Studio is based in Shinigawa, Tokyo and is led by Harada as president and CEO, along with Yuichi Yonemori – who’s worked as a designer and director on the Tekken series ever since 1999’s Tekken Tag Tournament – as chief creative officer.
It was then announced in June that Ikeda – who was game director on Tekken 7 and Tekken 8 – was also leaving Bandai Namco after 20 years at the company.
Now Ikeda has confirmed that he too has joined Harada and Yonemori at VS Studio, meaning three of the Tekken series’ most notable names are now reunited and working together again at the SNK-owned developer.
“I’ve joined VS Studio as the next step in my journey,” Ikeda wrote on X, alongside a photo of himself, Harada and Yonemori posing together.
“Working on games again with two of my former bosses feels nostalgic in many ways, while at the same time, the excitement of creating something completely new makes every day incredibly fulfilling. I’m really looking forward to seeing what we can create together.”
VS Studio has still to officially reveal its first game
Although it’s still not officially been confirmed what VS Studio is working on, speculation has understandably led to assumptions it will be a one-on-one fighting game.
According to Harada, the ‘VS’ in VS Studio’s name holds various meanings, including “Video game Soft (VS Development Division),” and “the spirit of ‘Versus’ challenging tradition”.
“VS Studio’s philosophy is ‘Beyond tradition, crafted to perfection’,” he said in a statement. “We will combine technology, sensibility, and world-class expertise to pursue the ultimate. From a free, open, and spacious environment, we will generate new ideas and create memorable games. We established this studio to bring this vision to life.”
He added: “Having been involved in game development for many years, I’ve constantly considered how I want to spend my time as a developer and what kind of environment allows developers to perform at their best.
“VS Studio is one answer to that question. By bringing together technology and knowledge, and working with passionate colleagues, we aim to deliver the best gaming experiences to users worldwide.
“VS Studio aspires to be a studio that continues to take on such challenges, and we are looking for new team members who share our vision. Please look forward to the future of VS Studio.”
