Katsuhiro Harada reveals details on upcoming VS Studio project

Katsuhiro Harada, the former director of the Tekken franchise, has shared preliminary details regarding the upcoming project from his new independent studio, VS Studio. Following his departure from Bandai Namco earlier this year, Harada has taken the helm of this SNK subsidiary, which includes several veteran developers from his previous work who have joined the company on a voluntary basis.

In a September 2026 interview with VideoGamesChronicle, Harada stated that while the title of the game has not yet been revealed, he intends to meet the expectations of his fanbase. He described the project as a “surprise” that will not deviate from what fans expect, suggesting a continued focus on his expertise in the fighting game genre.

Ozan Kocoglu, publishing director at SNK, noted that VS Studio has the creative freedom to pursue both original intellectual properties and established franchises. The collaboration aims to leverage shared experience to strengthen the strengths of both Harada’s team and SNK.