Tekken 8 game director Kohei Ikeda has departed Bandai Namco after two decades. Ikeda also co-directed Tekken 7 and previously worked on the Soulcalibur franchise.
In a post on X announcing his exit, Ikeda described his time at Bandai Namco as a “dream come true” but said he is leaving the Japanese company to pursue “new challenges.”
“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,” he wrote.
“[…] To the development team members who fought alongside me for so many years—I can never thank you enough. There is no doubt that everything we achieved was possible because of this team.”
Tekken 8, the series’ first new installment in nearly a decade, sold 3 million copies within its first year. Its predecessor, Tekken 7, amassed over 12 million sales worldwide.
Two people integral to the franchises’ success in recent decades have now departed Bandai Namco, however, with long-serving Tekken director and producer Katsuhiro Harada having also left the company in December 2025 before joining Fatal Fury developer SNK to lead a new internal studio.
Source link
#Tekken #game #director #Kohei #Ikeda #left #Bandai #Namco
