SNK launches VS Studio and appoints fighting game legend Katsuhiro Harada as its CEO
The studio marks a major internal investment for SNK, though no specific projects have been announced yet.
SNK has just made a big splash by announcing the opening of its new studio and bringing back the legendary Katsuhiro Harada, who had retired just a few months ago. The studio, established on May 1, is called VS Studio SNK Co., Ltd., with Harada serving as its Representative Director and CEO.
The studio’s name reflects several personal and professional influences for Harada. “VS” references his early career in a video game software division, as well as the competitive “versus” structure central to fighting games. It also functions as shorthand for broader ideas such as “Visionary Standard” and “Vanguard Spirit,” which the studio positions as internal guiding principles rather than a specific genre or product direction.
Harada brings more than three decades of experience from his time at Namco, where he played a key role in the evolution of arcade and console fighting games. He has also been closely associated with the growth of community-driven tournaments, which helped shape the foundations of today’s global esports scene. According to SNK, VS Studio will operate under the guiding concept “Beyond tradition, crafted to perfection,” with a focus on combining established design principles with modern development practices.
A new chapter for SNK
From SNK’s perspective, the partnership represents a significant internal investment rather than an immediate product announcement. Producer Yasuyuki Oda acknowledged the long-standing professional relationship between the two and confirmed that no specific software projects have been formally revealed at this stage. “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.”
Related stories
VS Studio was launched, therefore, without any specific game announced, but with a clear message: SNK doesn’t just want to preserve its past; it wants more tools to shape its future. And Harada, after bringing one of the longest-running and most iconic eras in modern Japanese video games to a close, is once again stepping into the ring.
Follow MeriStation USA on X (formerly known as Twitter). Your video game and entertainment website for all the news, updates, and breaking news from the world of video games, movies, series, manga, and anime. Previews, reviews, interviews, trailers, gameplay, podcasts and more! Follow us now!