Tekken 8 director Kohei Ikeda has joined Katsuhiro Harada’s VS Studio.
Ikeda announced his departure from Bandai Namco in June after twenty years with the company. At that time, he did not disclose his future plans but stated he would “continue taking on new challenges as a game developer.”
He has now joined VS Studio as a game designer. “Working on games again with two of my former bosses feels nostalgic in many ways,” Ikeda shared on social media.
“The excitement of creating something completely new makes every day incredibly fulfilling. I’m really looking forward to seeing what we can create together.”
VS Studio launched earlier this year and is led by Harada as president and CEO, along with CCO Yuichi Yonemori. Yonemori was a designer and director on the Tekken series since 1999.
SNK has invested in VS Studio, supported its launch, and intends to make the studio a consolidated subsidiary.
“Having been involved in game development for many years, I’ve constantly considered how I want to spend my time as a developer and what kind of environment allows developers to perform at their best,” said Harada.
“VS Studio is one answer to that question. By bringing together technology and knowledge, and working with passionate colleagues, we aim to deliver the best gaming experiences to users worldwide.”
Harada concluded: “VS Studio aspires to be a studio that continues to take on such challenges, and we are looking for new team members who share our vision.”