Kohei Ikeda Joins Katsuhiro Harada at VS Studio

Kohei Ikeda, the former chief producer and game director for Bandai Namco's Tekken 8, has officially joined VS Studio. The announcement, made by Ikeda via a social media post on August 18, 2026, marks a significant reunion for the veteran developer, who will be working under former Tekken series lead Katsuhiro Harada.

Ikeda described the move as the "next step" in his career journey. In his announcement, he noted that working alongside two of his former bosses feels nostalgic while providing the excitement of creating something entirely new. This move follows Ikeda's departure from Bandai Namco earlier this year in June, after a 20-year career that included roles on Soulcalibur 4, Tekken 7, and Tekken 8.

VS Studio is a new fighting game development studio based in Shinagawa, Tokyo. The studio was established by Harada in May 2026 following his departure from Bandai Namco late last year. The studio is backed by SNK Corporation, the developer of Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves. Harada has stated that the studio's name, VS Studio, represents concepts such as Visionary Standard, Volition Shift, and Vanguard Spirit.

While the studio has not officially announced any specific projects, the involvement of high-profile fighting game veterans Harada and Ikeda has led to significant industry interest. As of May, Harada indicated the studio was still in a recruitment phase to find members who share the studio's vision. While the studio's output remains unannounced, the pedigree of its leadership suggests a strong focus on the fighting game genre.