SNK Corporation has announced that industry veteran Katsuhiro Harada has joined the company and formed a new studio, VS Studio. This brand-new studio will be SNK’s latest subsidiary. Established on May 1, 2026, the studio is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, and SNK will support its launch. SNK and VS Studio will collaborate on game software development. Harada is known for his work on the Tekken series, and he announced in a video message:
Katsuhiro Harada also shared a comment:
We are pleased to announce the launch of our new game development studio, “VS Studio.” VS Studio’s philosophy is “Beyond tradition, crafted to perfection.” 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. Please look forward to the future of VS Studio.
Yasuyuki Oda, SNK Developer, also commented:
I am extremely proud to welcome Mr. Katsuhiro Harada, who has been a long-time friend and a worthy rival to us, into our group. We’ve long discussed the hypothetical scenario of working together, and now that dream has become a reality. To be honest, nothing has been decided yet, but I have no doubt that things will become even more exciting than ever before. We look forward to your continued support for SNK and VS Studio.
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It will be interesting to see whether Katsuhiro Harada will continue his expertise to develop a fighting game under the banner of VS Studio and SNK or will take a different direction in the video game segment.
