During the ceremony of Game Awards 2023the founder of Surgent Studios Abubakar Salim took the stage to present a video game, a first for the transmedia production studio, which mainly specializes in films. Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is an adventure platform game inspired by her own story and the death of her fatherwho dreamed of creating an action-adventure game metroidvania.
Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is published by EA Originals and will follow Zaua young hero bereaved by the disappearance of his father but who will do everything to bring him back to life with the help of KalungaTHE Death god. A 2.5D title which will highlight the cosmic powers of the young warrior shaman in the lands of Kenzera. The game is inspired by Bantu tales and will be dubbed into English as well as Swahili, an East African language.
Perform the shaman dance. Find your father’s spirit.
A grieving young boy begins reading a Bantu tale written by his deceased father. Venture into the beautiful and perilous lands of Kenzera as Zau, a young shaman who makes a deal with the God of Death to bring back his Baba from the darkness.
Use your cosmic powers and budding courage to progress through unknown mythological lands. Once full of life, Kenzera is now filled with lost ancestral spirits. As Zau approaches his objective, he encounters three powerful beings, fearsome, but strangely familiar. Will you enter the shaman’s dance?
Designed by Surgent Studios, the entertainment studio founded by actor Abubakar Salim (Assassin’s Creed: Origins, Raised by Wolves) and published by EA Originals, Tales of Kenzera: ZAU takes you on a moving journey inspired by the abundant myths of Bantu cultures .
Abubakar Salim comments:
For a long time, I struggled to find a way to talk about how I grieved. Being able to do this today through Zau who shares the same grief, then grows and heals in Tales of Kenzera: ZAU seems to me an ideal means of expression. For me, video games are the strongest medium for sharing stories. My late father introduced me to this medium and what better way to honor his memory, our relationship and our love than such an experience? I’m extremely grateful and proud of the art team that went into developing Surgent Studios and I’m really excited that EA Originals is giving me this platform and space to share this story with everyone.
Jeff Gamon, general manager ofEA Partnersadds:
The goal of EA Originals is to empower and support new talent in game development to enable creative people to share their visionary stories with a wide audience. Our enthusiasm for Abu’s touching vision, which draws on his family history and a millennium of Bantu mythology, has driven us to support Surgent Studios since their inception several years ago. The EA Originals team is very proud to help Abu share this unforgettable and moving experience with the world.
Tales of Kenzera: ZAU release date is already set for April 23, 2024 on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch. Pre-orders are launching with a bonus allowing you to obtain two Shaman Points to unlock skills, the visual effect variant Grace of Kalunga and digital comics Soulshifters. You can find maps PSN on Amazon, Cdiscount And there Fnac.
| Clint008 Editor – Tester |