Tekken Director Harada Not Seeking New Job

Tekken's Harada Seeking Jobs on LinkedIn

Rumors of Exit from Bandai

Tekken director Katsuhiro Harada has sparked rumors of leaving Bandai Namco after 30 years by posting on LinkedIn that he is seeking new job opportunities. The news was first noticed by the Japanese video game news account Genki_JPN on X (formerly Twitter), which shared a screenshot of Harada's LinkedIn profile. In his recent post, Harada indicated he is #OpenToWork and is interested in roles such as Executive Producer, Game Director, Business Development, Vice President, or Marketing, with a preference for positions based in Tokyo.

This announcement has caused concern among fans about Harada's future and the direction of the Tekken series, as evidenced by numerous replies to the post seeking confirmation from the director himself.

Harada Responds: No Need to Worry

Quick to address the rumors, Harada used his active presence on X (Twitter) to clarify his intentions. He assured fans that he is not leaving Bandai Namco. Instead, he is looking to expand his network within the gaming industry. Responding directly to a fan's query, Harada stated, "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 that enabling the #OpenToWork feature on LinkedIn allows him to connect with more industry professionals.

This clarification should reassure Tekken enthusiasts, who can now look forward to potential growth and new collaborations for the franchise. A recent example of such collaboration is the integration of Final Fantasy 16 characters into Tekken 8, with protagonist Clive Rosfield as a new fighter and additional characters like Jill, Joshua, and even Nektar the Moogle available through skins and accessories. Harada's efforts to broaden his network are likely to bring fresh ideas and enhance the beloved series further.