Tekken's Harada Seeks New Opportunities on LinkedIn
Rumors of Departure from Bandai Namco
Katsuhiro Harada, the renowned director behind the Tekken series, has sparked rumors of leaving Bandai Namco after 30 years with the company. The speculation arose when Harada updated his LinkedIn profile, indicating he is #OpenToWork and seeking new positions. A screenshot of his profile, shared by the Japanese gaming news account Genki_JPN on X (formerly Twitter), revealed Harada's interest in roles such as Executive Producer, Game Director, Business Development, Vice President, or Marketing positions, all based in Tokyo.
This news has caused concern among fans, who flooded the comments section of the post, seeking confirmation from Harada about his future with Bandai Namco and the Tekken series.
Harada Clarifies His Intentions
Harada, known for his active engagement on social media, swiftly addressed the rumors. He clarified that he is not leaving Bandai Namco but is instead looking to expand his professional network. In response to a fan's query on X, Harada explained, "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 noted that using LinkedIn's #OpenToWork feature allows him to connect with more industry professionals.
This clarification should reassure Tekken fans, who can look forward to further developments and potential collaborations in the series. Recently, Tekken 8 showcased a collaboration with Final Fantasy 16, introducing Clive Rosfield as a new fighter, along with skins and accessories featuring other characters like Jill, Joshua, and even Nektar the Moogle. Harada's efforts to broaden his network are likely to bring fresh ideas and exciting partnerships to the franchise.
