During The Game Awards, Abubakar took the stage to reveal a new EA Originals title, Tales of Kenzera: ZAU.
Actor Abubakar Salim (Assassin’s Creed: Origins, Raised by Wolves) has announced a new game that is a single-player story story-driven action title about a young shaman who bargains with Death to bring his father back to life and of course, it does not go as planned.
Prepare to adventure into the beautiful and treacherous lands of Kenzera as Zau, a young shaman bargains with the God of Death to bring his Baba back from darkness.
Embark on a poignant single-player story shaped by actor Abubakar Salim’s own experience with grief, discovering how love gives us the courage to press on after devastating loss. Wield powers from the Sun and the Moon to defeat restless spirits in rhythmic combat and become a worthy Nganga: a spiritual healer. Discover a rich universe with untold lore of chaos and order and journey through mystical 2.5D realms awash with color and depth, emboldened by multi-award-winning composer Nainita Desai’s enchanting original score.
Crafted 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 thrilling emotional journey inspired by the rich myths of Bantu cultures.
Published under the EA Originals label and developed by Surgent Studios – a transmedia production studio founded and led by Abubakar – Tales of Kenzera: ZAU invites players to step into the shoes of Zau, a grieving hero on a mission to bring his beloved father back from the grasp of death. Guided by Kalunga, the God of Death, Zau makes his way through mystical 2.5D realms to harness the cosmic powers of the warrior shaman. Tales of Kenzera: ZAU invites players to embark on a journey of spiritual healing, where the hardest moments unmask who they can truly become. The game will be released on April 23, 2024 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam, Epic Games Store and EA app.
“The EA Originals founding principle is to provide means and support to emerging game development talent, enabling creatives to bring their bold and visionary storytelling to a global gaming audience,” said Jeff Gamon, General Manager of EA Partners. “Our enthusiasm for Abu’s touching vision that draws from his family history and a millennia of Bantu mythology drove our support and belief in Surgent Studios from their start several years ago. The EA Originals team takes great pride in supporting Abu in sharing a truly unforgettable and poignant experience with the world.”
Unfolding in the beautiful, yet treacherous, lands of Kenzera, Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is inspired by Bantu tales, rich with untold lore of chaos and order, memories of ancient shamans, sacred spirits and fascinating creatures. Players can wield and expand cosmic powers from the Sun and Moon masks to defeat restless spirits in rhythmic combat; they can manipulate time and crystallize enemies using the Moon mask powers, or launch fiery spears with the Sun Mask – all in meticulously hand-crafted animations. Set to multi-award-winning composer, Nainita Desai’s enchanting original score, Zau’s quest to become a worthy spiritual healer takes place across several unique and vibrant environments.
Tales of Kenzera: ZAU will hit PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch on April 23, 2024!
