Katsuhiro Harada Hints Pac-Man Could Join Tekken with Shadow Labyrinth

Katsuhiro Harada, the chief behind Tekken, has taken on a new role as the executive producer of "Shadow Labyrinth," which is a surprising spin-off of Pac-Man. Revealed during Amazon’s animated anthology series "Secret Level," the game features a character called The Swordsman, aiming to navigate a maze and devour items. Harada indicated the potential for a crossover between this new title and Tekken. He reflected on earlier concepts of introducing Pac-Man as a guest character in Tekken, which faced pushback from Pac-Man's creator Tōru Iwatani due to unorthodox character designs. Recently, Iwatani appears to be more supportive of innovative directions for the Pac-Man franchise, paving the way for exciting possibilities.

Yes, Katsuhiro Harada expressed that a crossover is possible since both games share a Bandai Namco connection and The Swordsman fits the general theme of Tekken.

Set to release in 2025, "Shadow Labyrinth" marks a significant stylistic shift from traditional Pac-Man experiences and embraces a Metroidvania design, showcasing Pac-Man's evolution. The game harnesses an action-platformer format and aims to deliver unique gameplay that deviates from the conventional maze-chasing the series is known for. This innovation aligns with Bandai Namco's strategy to explore diverse narratives within established franchises.