Kohei Ikeda, game director on Tekken 8, has announced his departure from Bandai Namco after 20 years with the company, with his exit coming just five months after Katsuhiro Harada left the company after three decades with the studio.
Speaking on X, Ikeda-san shared the following message:
Ever since I first discovered fighting games as a student, I spent countless days in arcades, completely immersed in competition and battling against others. For someone like me, becoming part of the company I had always admired Namco was truly a dream come true. Looking back now, I realize that the opportunity that led me there was made possible by the many friendships and connections I built through fighting games and the people I met along the way.
As I reflect on the past 20 years at the company, I remember first stepping into game development through Soulcalibur IV. Later, I was given the opportunity to work on the Tekken series—a franchise that had a tremendous impact on my life and one that I had always hoped to someday give back to. 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. There were many joyful moments, and many difficult ones as well. There were times when we celebrated together, and times when I received passionate criticism and encouragement. Yet every one of those moments helped push both myself and the Tekken Project forward.
Tekken 8 was released in January 2024 for PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X/S, and recently launched its third season of content with the release of Kunimitsu. The last couple of updates for the game have been praised by fans for removing some of the more egregious issues introduced in the previous season, such as nerfing overpowered moves on top-tier characters and toning down the Heat system.
[Source – Kohei Ikeda on X]