Tekken Lead Talks About the Franchise’s Future

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Key Takeaways

  • Harada may only stay for one more Tekken entry due to age and development concerns.
  • Harada emphasizes the need for a balance between creative and business teams in future iterations.
  • Fans should prepare for potential changes in Tekken’s direction with new creatives taking control.

As a gamer who’s been around since the arcades of the ’90s and witnessed the rise of Tekken from its humble beginnings, it’s bittersweet to hear that the legendary Katsuhiro Harada might be hanging up his gloves after one more round. The man has been the heart and soul of this franchise for decades, turning Tekken into a household name in the fighting game genre.

The longtime executive producer of Tekken, Katsuhiro Harada, might only be involved with one more installment of the popular fighting series according to his recent statements. For nearly three decades, Harada has played a significant role in the development of Tekken.

As a dedicated gamer, I’ve been hooked on Tekken since its debut back in 1994. Over the years, it has skyrocketed in popularity and is practically synonymous with the fighting game genre. In fact, there have been 11 games in this Bandai Namco franchise over a span of about 30 years. For a significant part of that time, I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Katsuhiro Harada’s work in various Tekken titles, and now, he’s back for this year’s release, Tekken 8. Recently, there’s been some exciting news about Harada’s role in the future of this beloved series.

In an interview with VG247, producer Katsuhiro Harada and Michael Murray hinted they may only have one more installment of the popular game Tekken left in them. Factors such as aging and changes within Japan’s development scene could be reasons for this potential conclusion. As Harada reflected on his long career with Tekken, he suggested that a new team might take over eventually since many of the current developers have been with the series for decades. In the event of his departure, Harada hinted that the game may become more casual, similar to the Super Smash Bros. series.

Franchise Veteran Comments on Tekken’s Future

In the development of upcoming Tekken games, Harada emphasized the necessity for a harmonious power dynamic between the creative and business teams. He expressed concern that the creative side might become overshadowed by business considerations once senior creators retire. To counteract this, he suggested having team members who are well-versed in the game and its requirements on the creative team. Harada also pointed out that those handling financial matters tend to be quite influential, and there should be a member of the creative team equally powerful to match them. Maintaining this balance, though tricky, is crucial for the company’s longevity.

Katsuhiro Harada not only discussed the future of the series but also explained why Tekken has endured success over other 3D fighting games of its era. He believes that the “three pillars” – creative, marketing, and community aspects – are vital for maintaining the franchise’s lifespan. Although longtime developers remain in charge, Harada hinted at a potential shift in direction for Tekken as new creatives come on board.

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2024-10-01 07:53