Tekken 8 Game Director Kohei Ikeda Leaves After 20 Years at Bandai Namco, Amidst on-Going Series Woes

Tekken 8 Director Kohei Ikeda suddenly announces departure from Bandai Namco after 20 years

Tekken 8 Director Kohei Ikeda has announced on social media that he is departing from Bandai Namco. He's been with the company for 20 years. It's only been a few months since Katsuhiro Harada announced his own departure from Bandai Namco as the producer of Tekken 8. Harada had been with Bandai Namco for over 30 years by the time of his announcement.

Why did Tekken 8 lose its game director?

What’s driving Tekken’s leadership shake up Tekken’s long running development team has been hit by a pair of high profile departures that have raised fresh questions about what happens next for Bandai Namco’s fighting game series. First, Tekken legend Katsuhiro Harada left Bandai Namco last year,…

Tekken loses its third lead in 9 months as director Kouhei Ikeda leaves Bandai Namco after 20 years, leaving fans to worry about what's next for the iconic fighting game series

Producers Katsuhiro Harada and Yohei Shimbori both left in the past year

Tekken 8 game director Kohei Ikeda leaves after 20 years at Bandai Namco, amidst on-going series woes

Kohei Ikeda - director of Tekken 8 and 20-year veteran at Bandai Namco - has announced his departure from the company.

Now Tekken 8’s game director has followed Harada out the Bandai Namco exit door

Kohei Ikeda claims the Tekken series has been left in good hands…

Another Vital Figure Has Left Bandai Namco

Bandai Namco's Tekken team has had several high-profile departures over the past year. First was assistant director Yohei Shimbori in August of 2025, followed by Executive Director and the "face of Tekken" Katsuhiro Harada--who recently revealed his new studio in partnership with SNK. Today, another Tekken developer and fighting-game veteran has officially announced his departure. Kohei Ikeda, known among fans under the moniker "Nakatsu," has wo…