Another Tekken Leader Exits Bandai Namco As Kohei Ikeda Steps Down

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By Gaming News
1 June 2026 no comments

Tekken 8 director Kohei Ikeda leaves Bandai Namco after 20 years, following Katsuhiro Harada out the door and leaving Michael Murray at the helm.

Kohei Ikeda Leaves Bandai Namco  
Key Takeaways
  • Major Departure: Kohei Ikeda (Nakatsu), the game director for Tekken 7 and Tekken 8, has officially left Bandai Namco after 20 years with the company.
  • Leadership Drain: His exit marks the third major high-profile departure from the Tekken leadership team in a short period, following assistant director Yohei Shimbori and franchise icon Katsuhiro Harada.
  • Uncertain Future: While Ikeda teased he is preparing for his “next battle” as a developer, Michael Murray is currently left holding the reins of the Tekken franchise alone.
 

The fighting game community is processing some unexpected news today as the Tekken franchise has just lost another one of its leading creative minds. Kohei Ikeda, better known to fans as Nakatsu, has announced that he is leaving Bandai Namco after two decades with the company. His departure comes at a time when many fans are still adjusting to the loss of another longtime Tekken leader.

 

Kohei Ikeda Announces Departure From Bandai Namco

Another pillar of the Tekken franchise has decided to part ways with both the series and Bandai Namco. Kohei Ikeda, known throughout the fighting game community as Nakatsu, recently announced that he is leaving the company after spending 20 years helping shape some of its biggest fighting game franchises.

The news is another major blow for Tekken fans as just last year, legendary Tekken game director and producer Katsuhiro Harada stepped away from Bandai Namco. Harada, who had been one of the most recognizable faces behind the franchise for decades, later launched his own independent company VS Studio.

His departure marked the end of an era for Tekken and now just months after, another longtime veteran is following a similar path out of the company. Actually, few months before Harada’s exit, Tekken 8 assistant director Yohei Shimbori also left the company.

Unlike Harada, Ikeda did not provide a specific reason for his departure. Instead, his announcement focused on reflecting on his journey as both a fighting game fan and developer. He spoke about how joining Namco had been a dream come true, recalling his early years playing fighting games before eventually finding himself working on them professionally.

Over the course of two decades, Ikeda steadily climbed the ranks within the company and became involved in major projects across both the Soulcalibur and Tekken franchises.

While he announced his departure, Ikeda remained quiet about his future plans. He did not announce a new studio, a new position, or any upcoming project. Only a “Get Ready for the next battle” sign off which also excited some fans.

   

What Happens to Tekken’s Leadership Now

When Harada stepped away from Tekken leadership, responsibility for the franchise was handed over to both Ikeda and Michael Murray. With Ikeda now leaving as well, the full weight of Tekken’s future sits on Michael Murray’s shoulders, at least until Bandai Namco decides to appoint a replacement. It is also possible that the company chooses not to fill the role directly and instead restructures leadership responsibilities internally.

As the third high-profile departure from Bandai Namco tied closely to Tekken in a relatively short period of time, it is difficult not to wonder what is happening behind the scenes. Seeing two of the franchise’s most influential figures leave one after the other is enough to make fans question if everything is alright within Bandai Namco.

 

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Sending some gaming news your way from a surfing paradise island. Loves creating content, and researching informative facts and useless trivia. A novice in the gaming industry but a veteran in communications and publication.

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