VS Studio has expanded its team by bringing on Tekken veteran Kohei Ikeda as a game designer

Kohei Ikeda, known for his role as the director of Tekken 8, has now taken a position at VS Studio, managed by Katsuhiro Harada. After concluding two decades with Bandai Namco, Ikeda revealed his career shift in June, although his subsequent plans were initially undisclosed. He expressed intentions to "embrace new challenges in game development" at the time.

Now holding a game designer role at VS Studio, Ikeda reflected on the experience. "Working alongside two former superiors brings back a lot of memories," he commented on social media. He added the process of developing something entirely new is highly rewarding and expressed enthusiasm about future projects.

Established earlier this year, VS Studio operates under the guidance of Harada, who serves as the president and CEO. Yuichi Yonemori, who has been part of the Tekken series design team since 1999, holds the position of CCO.

SNK has financially backed the studio’s inception, aiming to integrate it as a fully owned subsidiary. Harada noted his longstanding thoughts on what environment fosters optimal performance among game developers. He stated, "VS Studio represents one such solution, striving to merge technological strengths and creative insights with a passionate team. Our ambition is to offer top-tier gaming experiences globally."

In his concluding remarks, Harada expressed a desire for the studio to remain innovative, inviting new talent to join in achieving their shared vision.