About six months after Katsuhiro Harada’s departure, another iconic figure from the Tekken franchise has decided to move on.

Kohei Ikeda, the game director of Tekken 7 and Tekken 8, announced on X that he is officially leaving Bandai Namco. He did not specify the reason behind his decision. He also did not mention what he plans to do next.

"Being surrounded by passionate and incredibly talented mentors and colleagues, and dedicating ourselves wholeheartedly to game development together, remains one of the most cherished experiences of my life.

In particular, being entrusted with the role of game director for Tekken 7 and Tekken 8 gave me the opportunity to connect with fans and members of the fighting game community (FGC) from all around the world. Sharing excitement, celebrating together, and spending unforgettable moments with all of you became one of the greatest treasures of my life.

While my role leading the team as game director is coming to a close, the values that both I personally and the Tekken Project have always cherished staying close to the fans and the community and building the game together with everyone will never change.

I have entrusted those values, and that baton, to the incredible team that will continue shaping the future of Tekken. As I look forward to the future of Tekken and the FGC, I will also continue taking on new challenges as a game developer."