How many of you still remember the name Hajime Tabata? Despite the imperfections in the final product, it was Tabata’s perseverance and dedication that allowed us to experience Final Fantasy XV as a commercial release. Whether that’s a good or bad thing depends on who you ask, but the latest news about the creator is not positive, as Tabata’s Project Jewel has been cancelled.
After parting ways with Square Enix, Tabata founded a new game studio, JP Games. However, since its inception, the studio has yet to deliver a game that captured gamers’ attention or generated significant industry buzz. The situation has only worsened following a major setback to what was supposed to be the studio’s most ambitious project to date.
Project Jewel, positioned as an AAA role-playing game that aimed to bring the mythical world of One Thousand and One Nights to life through the tale of a man and a goddess, has officially had its funding pulled. Quantum Solutions, the AI-focused company that was set to collaborate on the project, reportedly lost confidence in JP Games’ direction.
What Happened to Project Jewel?
Quantum Solutions had allegedly requested JP Games to revise the demo version of Project Jewel based on their assessment of current market trends. Unfortunately, JP Games did not respond positively to these demands. This disagreement ultimately led to Quantum Solutions’ decision to withdraw their support, halting both funding and development of the project.
As of now, Hajime Tabata has not issued any public statement regarding the matter. Project Jewel, first announced in 2024, had only revealed a single teaser image and no concrete gameplay details.
This cancellation marks another challenging chapter in Tabata’s post-Final Fantasy career, leaving the future of JP Games in jeopardy, as fans await to see what the creator and his studio will do next in the gaming space.
