VS Studio has bolstered its team with the addition of Kohei Ikeda, a seasoned veteran from the Tekken series, taking on the role of game designer.

Kohei Ikeda, previously directing Tekken 8, has joined the ranks of Katsuhiro Harada's VS Studio.

In June, Ikeda announced his exit from Bandai Namco after dedicating twenty years to the organization. He did not immediately reveal his upcoming career moves but expressed his intention to "continue taking on new challenges as a game developer."

Ikeda now occupies a game designer role at VS Studio. On social media, he mentioned, "Reuniting with two of my former superiors in game development evokes a strong sense of nostalgia."

He added, "The thrill of crafting entirely new projects is immensely gratifying. I'm eager to see the outcomes of our combined efforts."

VS Studio was inaugurated earlier this year under the leadership of Harada as the president and CEO, alongside Yuichi Yonemori, the CCO. Yonemori contributed as a designer and director on the Tekken series since 1999.

With backing from SNK, which aims to make VS Studio a consolidated subsidiary, the studio has received strong support.

Harada reflected, "Through years of game development, I've continuously pondered how to optimize conditions for developers and facilitate their peak performance."

He continued, "VS Studio represents one avenue to achieve that. By merging expertise and enthusiasm, and collaborating with driven colleagues, we strive to provide the finest gaming experiences to audiences worldwide."

Harada concluded by emphasizing, "VS Studio is committed to embracing such challenges and is in search of new team members who align with our mission."