Kohei Ikeda, former director of Tekken 8, has announced that he has joined VS Studio, initially formed by Katsuhiro Harada and SNK. Both initially formed the studio in May 2026.
In a message, Ikeda stated the following: “I’ve joined VS STUDIO as the next step in my journey. Working on games again with two of my former bosses feels nostalgic in many ways, while at the same time, the excitement of creating something completely new makes every day incredibly fulfilling. I’m really looking forward to seeing what we can create together!”
In the initial announcement press release, Harada stated that the studio’s philsophy is “beyond tradition, crafted to perfection.” He further outlined the mission statement of VS Studio:
We will combine technology, sensibility, and world-class expertise to pursue the ultimate. From a free, open, and spacious environment, we will generate new ideas and create memorable games. We established this studio to bring this vision to life.
The “VS” in VS Studio holds various meanings. It represents our roots in “Video game Soft (VS Development Division),” the spirit of “Versus” challenging tradition, and many other meanings symbolizing innovation and challenge, such as “Visionary Standard,” “Volition Shift,” and “Vanguard Spirit.”
Having been involved in game development for many years, I’ve constantly considered how I want to spend my time as a developer and what kind of environment allows developers to perform at their best. VS Studio is one answer to that question.
By bringing together technology and knowledge, and working with passionate colleagues, we aim to deliver the best gaming experiences to users worldwide. VS Studio aspires to be a studio that continues to take on such challenges, and we are looking for new team members who share our vision.
