Hot on the Heels of Katsuhiro Harada's Exit From Bandai Namco, the Director of Tekken 7 and 8 Has Left Too

Kohei 'Nakatsu' Ikeda, crippled manager connected Tekken 7 and 8, has near Bandai Namco aft 20 years astatine the company.

His exit comes blistery connected the heels of Tekken fable Katsuhiro Harada’s exit to signifier a caller video crippled company.

“There were joyful moments, and galore hard ones arsenic well,” Ikeda said successful a farewell connection posted connected societal media. “There were times erstwhile we celebrated together, and times erstwhile I received passionate disapproval and encouragement. Yet each 1 of those moments helped propulsion some myself and the Tekken Project forward.”

Ikeda didn’t accidental what helium plans to bash next, but astir fans are speculating that helium is acceptable to rejoin Harada astatine his caller venture, VS Studio, which has partnered with SNK Corporation.

The Tekken assemblage is present near wondering what’s successful store for the warring crippled franchise. Just past week Bandai Namco delighted fans by announcing Yujiro Hanma from the Baki manga and anime franchise arsenic the impermanent quality of the Tekken 8 Season 3 Pass, which ends aboriginal 2027 with his arrival. But with some Harada and present Ikeda retired of Bandai Namco, volition fans get a Tekken 9? If so, what mightiness it look like?

Certainly, Tekken fans person had a unsmooth narration with Bandai Namco successful caller years, criticising assorted aspects of the crippled and equilibrium changes. Harada has spoken publically astir his hard narration with some the Tekken franchise and Bandai Namco, stepping successful aggregate times connected societal media to respond to instrumentality concern, including the clip helium addressed a enactment implicit the merchantability of premium signifier DLC.

“Makes maine disquieted astir the destiny of Tekken 9,” said 1 acrophobic fan, responding to Ikeda’s departure. “The franchise mightiness person to instrumentality a spot of a interruption aft this game,” different suggested. “This crippled has decidedly been a nightmare for developers AND players.”

Bandai Namco itself has yet to accidental what’s successful store for Tekken beyond Tekken 8 Season 3.

Wesley is Director, News astatine IGN. Find him connected Twitter astatine @wyp100. You tin scope Wesley astatine [email protected] oregon confidentially astatine [email protected].