--- title: "Former ‘Tekken’ Boss Katsuhiro Harada Launches New Gaming Studio With Rival SNK Following Bandai Namco Exit" type: "News" locale: "en" url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/286123071.md" description: "Katsuhiro Harada, renowned for his work on the 'Tekken' franchise, has launched a new game development studio, VS Studio, in collaboration with rival SNK. Established on May 1, 2026, in Tokyo, the studio aims to innovate in game development, combining technology and creativity. Harada emphasized the studio's philosophy of challenging tradition and fostering a collaborative environment. SNK plans to support VS Studio as a consolidated subsidiary, marking a significant partnership in the gaming industry." datetime: "2026-05-12T15:01:45.000Z" locales: - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/286123071.md) - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286123071.md) - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/286123071.md) --- # Former ‘Tekken’ Boss Katsuhiro Harada Launches New Gaming Studio With Rival SNK Following Bandai Namco Exit Video game industry legend Katsuhiro Harada, best known for his work on Bandai Namco‘s “Tekken” franchise, is launching a new game development studio with rival gaming company SNK. Per SNK, “VS Studio SNK was established on May 1, 2026, and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. In conjunction with this establishment, SNK will support the launch of the new studio and plans to make it a consolidated subsidiary. The new studio and SNK will collaborate on game software development to further strengthen their combined creative capabilities.” “We are pleased to announce the launch of our new game development studio, VS Studio,” Harada said. “VS Studio’s philosophy is ‘Beyond tradition, crafted to perfection.’ We will combine technology, sensibility, and world-class expertise to pursue the ultimate. From a free, open, and spacious environment, we will generate new ideas and create memorable games. We established this studio to bring this vision to life. The “VS” in VS Studio holds various meanings. It represents our roots in “Video game Soft (VS Development Division),” the spirit of “Versus” challenging tradition, and many other meanings symbolizing innovation and challenge, such as “Visionary Standard,” “Volition Shift,” and “Vanguard Spirit.” 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. 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. 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. Please look forward to the future of VS Studio.” “I am extremely proud to welcome Mr. Katsuhiro Harada, who has been a long-time friend and a worthy rival to us, into our group,” SNK developer Yasuyuki Oda said. “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. We look forward to your continued support for SNK and VS Studio.” More to come… #### Read More About: - Bandai Namco, - Tekken ### Related Stocks - [7832.JP](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/7832.JP.md) ## Related News & Research - [LucidSound Introduces LS500 Wireless Gaming Headset, Built for All-Day Comfort and Seamless Play Across Devices](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286964121.md) - [LucidSound Introduces LS500 Wireless Gaming Headset, Built for All-Day Comfort and Seamless Play Across Devices | ACCO Stock News](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286964269.md) - [‘Invincible VS’ Hits 1 Million Players Since April Launch (Gaming News Roundup)](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286318230.md) - [Nintendo's New 'Pictonico' iOS Game Turns Your Photos Into Minigames](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286962569.md) - [Tencent commits over ₹10 crore towards gaming and AVGC programs in India](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286580680.md)