Tekken Director Katsuhiro Harada Finally Visits Waffle House

Tekken director Katsuhiro Harada has finally made time to visit Waffle House. You might wonder why this is making headlines, but fans have been asking the fighting game developer to include a stage based on the 24/7 diner for years. Harada never outright opposed the idea—he cited trademark and rights issues as potential hurdles in 2024—but the concept remained elusive. After leaving Bandai Namco late last year and announcing his new studio, VS Studio, Harada hasn't forgotten about the All-Star Special and hashbrowns. Yesterday, he shared on X/Twitter that he finally stopped by Waffle House and even bought a menu for $5. "The staff are always friendly," he said, adding that he plans to return at 3 a.m. for "fight time," referencing the late-night brawl memes associated with Waffle House. Harada's journey with Waffle House has been a long saga, and fans responded enthusiastically to his update. While Harada no longer has direct influence over Tekken, the series continues—Bandai Namco recently announced Yujiro Hanma from Baki as a playable character in Tekken 8.