Summary
In one of the more unexpected team-ups of the last couple of years,Palworlddeveloper Pocketpair andTales of Kenzera: Zaucreator Surgent Studios have confirmed they are working together to create a new “short and weird” horror game.
This comes in the wake of Pocketpair announcing its own publishing arm, Pocketpair Publishing, designed to help “support game development through funding, development assistance and publishing for indie game developers and studios.”
Pocketpair To Publish New “Short And Weird” Horror Game
Despite itslooming lawsuit from Nintendo and The Pokemon Companyfor ‘patent infringement’, Pocketpair has confirmed it is launching its own publishing label due to the fact it “loves nothing more than games.”
In its statement, it said, “Game development comes with many challenges, but we want to ease that process as much as possible and provide an environment where creators can pursue their dreams.
“We are pleased to be able to support SURGENT STUDIOS’ new title as our first step. We deeply sympathize with their original ideas and passion and are honored to help them realize their vision. We will respect the autonomy and vision of developers and work together to make great games for people all over the world.”
Abubakar Salim, CEO of Surgent Studios added,“We noticed a pattern in the entertainment industry, and Pocketpair has given us the opportunity to make a horror game about it. Both Surgent and Pocketpair are well-versed in taking risks. This game will be short and weird, and we think players will be interested in what we have to say.
“We’re still in earnest conversation about further projects set in the Tales of Kenzera universe, but this will be a standalone piece: a mile marker between where we’ve come from and where we’re going“.
This game will be short and weird, and we think players will be interested in what we have to say.
The “further projects” Salim is referring to in his statement is likely the"Afro-Gothic RPG” the studio is makingin the vein of Planescape: Torment.The studio confirmed it had a fully functional prototype of the game, but funding issues have seemingly put the project on hold.
Tales of Kenzera: Zau
WHERE TO PLAY
Wield the dance of the shaman. Reclaim your father’s spirit.A grieving boy begins to read a Bantu tale written by his late father. Adventure into the beautiful and treacherous lands of Kenzera as Zau, a young shaman who bargains with the God of death to bring his Baba back from darkness.With your cosmic powers and untried courage, you advance into unknown mythological lands. Once bursting with life, Kenzera is now rife with lost ancestral spirits. As Zau advances toward his goal, 3 mighty beings lie in wait, fearsome in their strength yet somehow strangely familiar. Will you embrace the dance of the shaman?
