SNK Establishes New Studio Led by Former Tekken Franchise Leader Katsuhiro Harada

SNK Corporation has officially invested in and launched a brand-new game development studio founded by renowned game creator Katsuhiro Harada, who is globally famous for helming the iconic Tekken fighting game series.

Officially founded on May 1, 2026, VS Studio SNK Co., Ltd. will be fully supported and incorporated as a subsidiary under the SNK Group. The two parties will carry out in-depth cooperation in game software development, jointly boosting the overall game production capacity of both sides.

Headquartered and fully managed by Katsuhiro Harada, the seasoned developer boasts an impressive 31-year career spanning arcade, console and VR game production. He first joined the Tekken series as a voice actor, later took on the role of director starting from Tekken 3 in 1997, and finally served as executive producer for the latest blockbuster Tekken 8.

Having previously held the position of General Manager for Original IP Game Projects at Bandai Namco Entertainment, Harada departed from the company last December. Beyond game development itself, he has long devoted himself to global brand promotion and community operation, and has been supporting worldwide fighting game tournaments and fan events since the 1990s.

Studio Philosophy & Vision

As Representative Director and CEO of the new studio, Katsuhiro Harada shared his aspirations: “We are thrilled to announce the official launch of VS Studio. Our core philosophy is Beyond tradition, crafted to perfection. We aim to integrate advanced technology, artistic sensibility and world-class expertise to pursue ultimate gaming excellence. In a free, open and creative working atmosphere, we will inspire original ideas and create impressive classic games.

The brand name “VS” carries multiple profound meanings. It inherits the origin of Video game Soft development division, stands for the Versus spirit of breaking conventions, and also embodies concepts including Visionary Standard, Volition Shift and Vanguard Spirit, all representing innovation and breakthrough.

After years in the gaming industry, I have long been exploring the ideal working model and creative environment for developers, and VS Studio is exactly what we pursue. United by professional expertise and shared passion, our team is committed to delivering top-tier gaming experiences to players across the globe. We will keep embracing new challenges and welcome like-minded talents to join us. Please stay tuned for our upcoming creations.”

Yasuyuki Oda from SNK also expressed sincere expectations for this partnership: “It is my great honor to welcome Katsuhiro Harada to the SNK family. He has long been our close friend as well as a respected industry rival. We have talked about collaborating for years, and now this long-awaited dream has finally come true. Although specific development plans have not been finalized yet, I firmly believe that more exciting works are on the way. We sincerely appreciate continuous support for both SNK and VS Studio.”

It is publicly known that SNK has been majority-owned by Saudi Arabia’s MiSK Foundation since April 2022, laying solid financial and global development foundations for its future layout.

Moving forward, VS Studio will work hand in hand with SNK to explore diversified game genres, inject fresh creativity into classic game fields, and write a new chapter for the global fighting game industry.

Official Website: http://vs-studio.com

Official Social Media: X (formerly Twitter) @VS_Studio_JP

Sources: https://www.snk-corp.co.jp/us/press/2026/announcement-of-new-studio-establishment-katsuhiro-harada-appointed-as-representative/ https://www.polygon.com/harada-tekken-new-studio-snk-vsstudio/