Tekken director Kohei Nakatsu Ikeda leaves Bandai Namco after 20 years

After long-time Tekken boss Katsuhiro Harada departed last year to start a studio under SNK, the game director behind the last two entries has now left Bandai Namco as well. Kohei "Nakatsu" Ikeda, who joined the team behind Soulcalibur 4 and later served as game director for Tekken 7 and Tekken 8, announced his departure on X after 20 years with the company.

In his message he thanked the community: "Sharing excitement, celebrating together, and spending unforgettable moments with you all became one of the greatest treasures of my life." He added that he plans to remain in the industry, writing, "As I look forward to the future of Tekken and the FGC, I will also continue taking on new challenges as a game developer.

I hope our paths cross again someday." Ikeda’s exit further reduces the series’ long-standing leadership, leaving producer Michael Murray and director Yasuki Nakabayashi as its most visible figures.

kohei ikeda, nakatsu, bandai namco, tekken 8, tekken 7, katsuhiro harada, snk, michael murray, yasuki nakabayashi, fgc