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Former Tekken 8 Director Kohei Ikeda Joins VS Studio, Re-Teams With Tekken Veteran Katsuhiro Harada

IGN
GamesRadar+
Eurogamer
3outlets covering
23hspread over
+13hmedian lag
0.3outlets/hr now
TDGN Brief

3 newsrooms are on this story. Eurogamer published first yesterday; the rest followed at a median of 13 hours.

The fastest follow came from GamesRadar+, 2.9 hours behind the first report. The median outlet followed 13 hours after the break. The pack has settled: no new outlet in 2.7 hours.

Early movers: Eurogamer, GamesRadar+, IGN.

TDGN's index has been following this beat: Former Tekken (3 stories tracked) and Tekken 8 (8 stories tracked) across recent coverage — this story is currently the latest of them.

  • First report: Eurogamer, yesterday
  • 3 outlets over 23 hours · median lag 13 hours
  • Beat: Former Tekken (3 stories tracked), Tekken 8 (8 stories tracked)

This briefing is compiled automatically by TDGN’s newsroom systems from 3 outlets’ reports and TDGN’s own coverage tracking — no generative AI — and it updates as coverage develops. The outlets’ original reporting is linked below.

Who reported it, and when

  1. first Eurogamer Tekken 8 director jumps ship to join Harada's new Vs Studio team
  2. +3h GamesRadar+ Former Tekken boss Katsuhiro Harada's new studio grabs yet another series veteran from Bandai Namco to work on a mysterious unannounced game
  3. +23h IGN Former Tekken 8 Director Kohei Ikeda Joins VS Studio, Re-Teams With Tekken Veteran Katsuhiro Harada

This page records how the games press covered one story. The reporting belongs to the outlets listed; every headline links to the original. Counts update as more outlets publish. The article itself follows below.

Hot3 outlets·0.3/hr nowtop 7%first: Eurogamer

Former Tekken 8 Director Kohei Ikeda Joins VS Studio, Re-Teams With Tekken Veteran Katsuhiro Harada

IGN · ·

Former Tekken 8 Director Kohei Ikeda has announced he has joined newly established developer VS Studio, the Tokyo-based, SNK-owned outfit that was founded in May 2026 by former Tekken producer and director Katsuhiro Harada.

“I’ve joined VS Studio as the next step in my journey,” confirmed Ikeda via social media. “Working on games again with two of my former bosses feels nostalgic in many ways, while at the same time, the excitement of creating something completely new makes every day incredibly fulfilling.”

“I’m really looking forward to seeing what we can create together!”

Ikeda left Namco Bandai back in June. His 20-year stint at the storied developer culminated with his duties as game director on both Tekken 7 and 8. At least according to Harada, Ikeda’s final direction on Tekken involved ensuring one of Harada’s own final requests came to fruition, which was his plan to tease the return of Roger Jr. by re-creating a 10-year-old viral clip out of Australia of a man punching a kangaroo to rescue a dog.

Ikeda’s exit came rapidly in the wake of Harada’s own departure following over three decades at Namco Bandai, after which the Tekken legend quickly founded VS Studio.

A glimpse at what VS Studio has in store is likely some way off, but it would appear there is no shortage of fighting game experience assembled at the new developer so far.

Luke is a Senior Editor on the IGN reviews team. You can track him down on Bluesky @mrlukereilly to ask him things about stuff.

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