Veteran game director Katsuhiro Harada, renowned for his decades-long role with the Tekken series, has returned to the industry by heading a new Tokyo outfit named VS Studio. He departed from Bandai Namco last December following three decades of leadership and becoming the iconic, slick-haired representative of the fighting game series, a move that caught the community off guard. Although Harada oversees the creative direction and projects at VS Studio, the entity operates as a branch of SNK Corporation, a direct competitor to Bandai Namco in the fighting game sector.
Harada revealed the studio's formation through a brief video where he explained his transition to SNK and outlined broad artistic goals. In summary, his aim is to develop high-quality titles alongside reliable team members, with VS Studio appearing to be in its early stages, as he invited potential hires to join the effort. According to a company statement, the studio's guiding principle is 'beyond tradition, crafted to perfection,' while the acronym 'VS' represents concepts such as Visionary Standard, Volition Shift, and Vanguard Spirit.
“We will combine technology, sensibility and world-class expertise to pursue the ultimate,” Harada stated. “From a free, open and spacious environment, we will generate new ideas and create memorable games.”
Experienced SNK developer Yasuyuki Oda commented, “we've long discussed the hypothetical scenario of working together and now that dream has become a reality. To be honest, nothing has been decided yet, but I have no doubt that things will become even more exciting than ever before.”
SNK, a prominent Japanese game maker, is celebrated for its combat series including Fatal Fury, Samurai Shodown, and The King of Fighters, in contrast to Bandai Namco's offerings like Tekken and Soulcalibur alongside an extensive catalog of hits across multiple categories. Bandai Namco dominates in scale, yet SNK maintains solid funding via the Electronic Gaming Development Company, a charitable organization overseen by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Investments from Saudi Arabia into gaming firms and esports events have sparked widespread apprehension in the global community of gamers and creators, given the prince's notorious and worsening history of human rights violations.
The EGDC acquired SNK in 2022 and has since taken a 5% share in Capcom. Additionally, the prince's Public Investment Fund holds stakes in various international gaming entities, such as Nintendo, Niantic, Electronic Arts, and Take-Two Interactive. The PIF, along with its subsidiary Savvy Games Group, played a key role in Embracer Group's downfall in 2023 by withdrawing from a $2 billion funding agreement at the eleventh hour, triggering extensive studio shutdowns and job cuts that continue to affect the sector profoundly.
In the midst of these developments, Harada appears focused on producing standout fighting games through VS Studio. Speculation points to that direction for his SNK-backed venture, though the group remains in its formative phase.