Industry Veteran Katsuhiro Harada Appointed as Representative Director and CEO of SNK’s Newest Subsidiary, VS Studio SNK
Osaka, Japan — May 12, 2026 — SNK CORPORATION today announced the establishment of VS Studio SNK Co., Ltd., a newly founded game development studio led by industry veteran Katsuhiro Harada.
VS Studio SNK was established on May 1, 2026, and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. In conjunction with this establishment, SNK will support the launch of the new studio and plans to make it a consolidated subsidiary. The new studio and SNK will collaborate on game software development to further strengthen their combined creative capabilities.
See here for a video message from SNK.
Comment from Katsuhiro Harada:
“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.”
Comment from Yasuyuki Oda, SNK Developer:
“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.”
VS Studio SNK Overview
Studio Name: VS Studio SNK (trademark pending)
Headquarters: 4th Floor, Shin-Meguro Tokyu Building, 2-25-2 Kami-Osaki, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo
Representative: Representative Director and CEO Katsuhiro Harada
Business Activities: Planning, development, and operation of video game software
Official Website: http://vs-studio.com
Official Social Media: @VS_Studio_Inc
Official Company Logo and Assets: See here
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ABOUT KATSUHIRO HARADA
After graduating from Waseda University, he joined Namco (at the time). For 31 years, he was involved in the development and production of numerous games, including arcade, home console, and VR titles. Furthermore, he focused on global marketing and community activities beyond the scope of game development, supporting fighting game tournaments and fan events around the world for many years since the 1990s. He has contributed to the formation and development of the foundation of today’s e-sports culture.
ABOUT SNK
Founded in 1978, SNK CORPORATION is a Japanese video game company headquartered in Osaka, Japan. SNK is an acronym of Shin Nihon Kikaku, meaning New Japan Project, and was the company’s legal name until it was shortened to SNK in 1986. SNK is best known for creating the NEOGEO arcade system and several game franchises, including THE KING OF FIGHTERS, METAL SLUG, SAMURAI SHODOWN, and FATAL FURY. SNK also published classic games like WORLD HEROES, NINJA MASTER’S, and SENGOKU. Learn more about SNK CORPORATION by visiting https://www.snk-corp.co.jp/us/.
MEDIA CONTACTS
SNK CORPORATION
info-usa@snk-corp.co.jp
TriplePoint on behalf of SNK CORPORATION
snk@triplepointpr.com
Hailey Armstrong