TL;DR, Katsuhiro Harada has founded VS Studio in partnership with SNK, and the studio will join SNK as a subsidiary with Harada serving as Representative Director and CEO. SNK says it will collaborate with VS Studio on software development while Harada outlines a philosophy of innovation.

Tekken director Katsuhiro Harada has launched VS Studio in partnership with SNK. The new developer will join SNK as a subsidiary, and Harada will serve as Representative Director and CEO. SNK says it plans to collaborate with the team on software development, making this a rare pairing of a veteran creator and a storied fighting game company.

For fans searching Katsuhiro Harada VS Studio, this is the official next chapter after his exit from Bandai Namco. Harada left Bandai Namco in December after more than 30 years. He now positions Katsuhiro Harada VS Studio as a place built on innovation and challenge, with a message centered on craft and a flexible work environment.

SNK and Harada both issued statements outlining the relationship, goals, and an open timeline for what comes next. Here is what was announced, why Harada formed the studio, and how SNK plans to work with the new subsidiary.

VS Studio joins SNK, Katsuhiro Harada named CEO

The announcement confirms a formal corporate move, not a loose collaboration. VS Studio has been established by Tekken veteran Katsuhiro Harada and is joining the SNK group as a subsidiary. In practical terms, the studio sits inside SNK’s corporate structure while retaining its own identity and leadership.

SNK states it aims to work with the new team on software development. That phrasing leaves room for a range of roles across planning, production, or technology support. Harada has been appointed Representative Director and CEO, placing him at the top of decision making for the studio’s creative and business direction.

The company introduction positions the studio to operate with the backing of SNK’s resources.

Harada’s move follows his December announcement that he departed Bandai Namco after more than three decades. With that chapter closed, he now fronts a startup under a familiar fighting game banner. The launch communication names the relationship clearly and avoids vague language, making it clear this is VS Studio SNK rather than an external contractor.

For readers tracking the news under Katsuhiro Harada VS Studio, this is the official structure and chain of command.

Key points, as stated by the companies:

• VS Studio is founded by Katsuhiro Harada and becomes an SNK subsidiary.
• SNK intends to collaborate with the studio on software development.
• Harada’s title is Representative Director and CEO, leading the new company.
• Project details, platforms, and timelines are not yet announced.

Why Katsuhiro Harada started VS Studio

Harada framed the new company with a motto and a set of meanings for its name. The studio’s credo is “Beyond tradition, crafted to perfection,” a statement that blends respect for genre heritage with a push for refinement. He says the team will combine technology, sensibility, and world-class expertise to pursue the ultimate, and that a free, open, spacious workplace will help generate new ideas and memorable games.

The name itself carries layers by design. Harada lists the group’s roots in “Video game Soft” and the competitive spirit of “Versus.” He adds “Visionary Standard,” which reads as a quality bar, “Volition Shift,” suggesting risk-taking, and “Vanguard Spirit,” a stance at the front edge. He groups these ideas under a focus on innovation and challenge, signaling an appetite for new approaches within familiar spaces like fighting games.

For followers of the Tekken director new studio story, this framing answers the why more than the what. Harada’s message does not announce a title yet. It stakes out a philosophy and culture for creators, then ties that culture to clear action words: innovate, challenge, perfect.

That aligns with expectations for Katsuhiro Harada new studio efforts, where polish and competitive design often define success.

What stands out is the emphasis on environment. Many creators highlight tools or pipelines first. Harada starts with people and space, then pairs that with craft language.

If the VS Studio philosophy holds inside the team, it sets a foundation for consistent execution once specific projects enter production.

How SNK and VS Studio will work together, and what we know so far

SNK’s statement is concise: the company aims to collaborate with the new studio on software development while VS Studio operates as an SNK subsidiary. That places the team inside the group with access to support, but leaves room for the studio to chart its own plans under Harada’s leadership. The move signals confidence in a partnership where both sides share know-how and pipelines while building new work.

SNK developer Yasuyuki Oda added personal context. He called Harada a long-time friend and worthy rival, and said they had often discussed working together. Oda also stressed that “nothing has been decided yet,” a clear line that projects, genres, and platforms have not been announced.

Even so, he expects the collaboration to make things more exciting, and he asked for continued support for both companies.

Here is what is confirmed today, and what remains open:

• Confirmed: VS Studio is part of SNK as a subsidiary. Harada is Representative Director and CEO. SNK plans to collaborate on software development.
• Not yet announced: game titles, teams, platforms, timelines, or whether work will target internal SNK IP, new IP, or external partnerships.

For those tracking Katsuhiro Harada SNK developments, the public record stops at structure and intent. The lack of project details should be read as standard early-stage positioning, not a delay. The emphasis on collaboration points to resource sharing across the SNK VS Studio link, while Oda’s “nothing decided yet” line sets expectations.

The next official update will need to outline the first production slate from the new Harada SNK studio.

Source: Crunchyroll