Harada and Game Director’s Departure Due to Community Toxicity Claims Producer
Not too long ago, Katsuhiro Harada left Bandai Namco after working there for over three decades. Less than six months later, Kohei Nakatsu Ikeda also announced that he’s leaving the studio after 20 years.
This news, of course, has worried fans about the franchise’s future. As uncertainty around Tekken continues to grow following the departure of two of the franchise’s most important figures, the series producer has suggested that both veterans left due to community toxicity.
Murray Suggests Community Toxicity Behind Harada’s & Ikeda’s Departure
Just recently, Kohei Nakatsu Ikeda made an official tweet confirming his departure from Bandai Namco after two decades with the company. Following this, fans began sharing their own opinions about why Ikeda left the studio.
Over on X (formerly Twitter), Tekken franchise producer Michael Murray responded to a fan who mentioned how the last two major patches released for Tekken 8 weren’t handled by Ikeda himself and how the game director is seemingly leaving the game in good hands.
Murray’s reply suggests that Harada and Nakatsu managed and worked within Bandai Namco’s corporate structure for around 20 years, but dealing with the wider Tekken community has been a different challenge altogether.
Murray further said that this is exactly the reason why both veterans left the studio, stating, “The online Tekken community makes it pretty easy. Harada and Nakatsu put up with corporate for 20 years… just saying.“
It is unfortunate to see industry veterans leave the studio, with Murray implying it may be due to toxic community pressure and high expectations surrounding every patch. At this time, it is unknown whether Ikeda will return to the industry or step away entirely, or even join Harada at his new studio at SNK.
Bandai Namco has yet to announce who will replace Ikeda, a key figure in the Tekken franchise. Nonetheless, what do you think about this? Is it possible the game devs left the Tekken franchise due to the community?
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