Hajime Tabata
A visionary pioneer of Japanese video games, Hajime Tabata, director of Final Fantasy XV and founder of JP UNIVERSE, is shaping the future of gaming, culture and digital creation through projects combining technological innovation, metaverses and transmission to the creators of tomorrow.
Architect of the Final Fantasy XV universe and pioneer of the video game metaverse, Hajime Tabata is one of the most influential creators in the Japanese video game industry.
A former director and producer at Square Enix, he led several iconic projects in the Final Fantasy franchise, including and part of the Compilation of FINAL FANTASY VII those titles: Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy Type-0 and his signature work is FINAL FANTASY XV UNIVERSE, a AAA transmedia project bringing together the main game Final Fantasy XV, the anime Brotherhood: Final Fantasy XV, and the CGI film Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV.
In 2018, Hajime Tabata left Square Enix to found JP GAMES, then became head of JP UNIVERSE Inc. His goal: to build an RPG gaming platform and contribute to the emergence of a new generation of video game creators. In particular, he developed OwnWorld, a video-game production middleware integrating artificial intelligence, enabling anyone to create their own game easily and intuitively.
Hajime Tabata goes beyond the traditional role of game creator. He has established himself as a key player in the future of Japanese content, culture, economy and education. With JP UNIVERSE, he is currently working with a number of companies and local authorities to develop Ryugukoku, a national platform that uses video games to promote Japanese culture on a global scale.
His visit to Japan Expo is not just an opportunity to look back on his exceptional career: it could also mark the presentation of key elements of Ryugukoku, an initiative destined to define the foundations of tomorrow's digital creation. Hajime Tabata is establishing himself more than ever as a pioneer of the new creative generation, closely followed by the industry worldwide.