Katsuhiro Harada, best known for his decades-long work on the Tekken series, has officially unveiled a brand-new game development team called VS Studio in partnership with SNK.
The announcement marks a major new chapter for Harada, who has become one of the most recognisable figures in fighting game development thanks to his work helping shape Tekken into one of the industry’s biggest competitive franchises.
According to reports surrounding the reveal, VS Studio will focus on creating original experiences while also exploring competitive game design and broader entertainment projects. Harada has reportedly described the studio’s philosophy as being “beyond tradition” and focused on creating polished, high-quality experiences.
Interestingly, Harada has also clarified that the “VS” in VS Studio does not strictly stand for traditional fighting game “versus” gameplay. Instead, the studio appears interested in wider forms of competition, interaction, and player engagement, potentially opening the door to projects outside the fighting game genre entirely.
While specific games have not yet been announced, the formation of the studio has already generated significant attention across the industry due to Harada’s reputation and long history within competitive gaming. Many fans are now curious to see whether VS Studio will create entirely new IPs, collaborate with existing SNK properties, or experiment with genres beyond traditional arena fighters.
The move also continues a wider trend of veteran developers launching new studios and creative teams as the industry evolves, often using decades of experience to pursue projects with greater creative flexibility.
For now, details remain limited, but with Harada leading the project and SNK backing the initiative, VS Studio is already shaping up to be one of the more closely watched new development teams in the fighting game space.
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