Tatsumeeko, Blockchain Game, Abruptly Cancels Development After $7.5M Funding

Tatsumeeko, a blockchain game that garnered significant attention from prominent crypto investors, has abruptly ceased its development. Despite securing an impressive $7.5 million in seed funding in 2022, the project ultimately did not materialize. The game's fan community reacted with anger and frustration upon learning of the sudden cancellation, with some long-term investors even suspecting a rug pull. However, the developers have already begun work on a new game, indicating that the studio is not shutting down entirely.

When Tatsumeeko first began development, it attracted considerable interest with its innovative blockchain-based community gaming concept. Early sponsors included YZI Labs, Animoca, DeFinance Capital, and major angel investors such as the co-founder of Twitch. The project's cancellation was confirmed in a recent announcement, which stated that the development of Tatsumeeko had been discontinued. The team, however, emphasized that they were not disbanding and would be focusing on a new project called Project: Wander, which will prioritize community integration through Discord.

The team's announcement was notably vague about the reasons behind the cancellation of Tatsumeeko. They primarily focused on the immediate commencement of their new project, leaving few details about the future of the game or its underlying technology. It remains unclear whether Ronin, a blockchain GameFi protocol, will continue to power the next game. The community's response to the announcement was largely negative, with several fan accounts accusing the team of conducting a rug pull scam. The developers, however, were active in addressing the concerns of their supporters.

A recurring issue in Tatsumeeko's development was the setting of overly ambitious goals. The community aspect was always centered around Discord, but side projects also explored the potential of Telegram's GameFi capabilities. This parallel development on entirely different platforms was cited as a reason for the main game's abandonment. Several supporters also expressed concern about the resources already invested in Tatsumeeko's development. In addition to seed funding, supporters participated in daily quests and other typical GameFi interactions in the hopes of earning future rewards.

The announcement claimed that these users would see their "assets transition into new forms of utility and value" in the next project. Despite these assurances, it is understandable why the game's fans might remain skeptical. Despite beginning development with high enthusiasm in 2022, Tatsumeeko's activity gradually tapered off. Before the cancellation announcement, the firm's last social media post was nearly two months ago. Nevertheless, the studio is not entirely shutting down, and existing investors can theoretically look forward to the next game, should it achieve better success. For the moment, tensions remain high among the community.