Final Fantasy XV director forms new studio ‘JP Games’

Last month, Final Fantasy XV director Hajime Tabata left Square Enix to open his own development studio. Preparations are well under way according to Tabata, as ‘JP Games' is now established ahead of its planned January launch.

“I started up my own company called ‘JP GAMES, Inc,'” Tabata announced on Facebook. “Right now, we are preparing for a target January 2019 launch. And to everyone who has assisted me until today–I kindly ask for your ongoing support.”

Once set up, JP Games will undoubtedly house Tabata’s mysterious project, hinted in his departure note from Square Enix’s Luminous studio in November. The ex-COO has kept details of the gameunder wraps for the time being, but Tabata being known for multiple entries in the Final Fantasy series mean that it could very well be an RPG.

Tabata’s legacy at Luminous is a mixed one. On one hand, he is the brains behind Final Fantasy XV, a game that managed to reach 8.1 million combined digital and physical sales since its 2016 release on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and eventually PC, iOS and Android. On the other, his report showed staggering 3.733 billion yen (approximately US$33 million) losses at the studio.

KitGuru Says: I look forward to seeing what the newfound freedom allows Tabata to do, and how his new project will develop under the JP Games banner. What would you like to see come from Tabata’s next game?

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