Surgent Studios, the developer of the game Tales of Kenzera: Zau, is working on developing what they call an “Afro-Gothic role-playing game” inspired by games like Planescape: Torment, and is looking for a financial partner to bring the game to life.
In an interview with VGC, studio head Abu Bakr Salim showcased a video of the game, currently seeking funding under the codename Project Uso. It is described as a role-playing game, with Salim stating:
The game is still within the Tales of Kenzera universe, but darker, more vibrant, and harsher. The best way I can describe it is that it’s an Afro-Gothic role-playing game.
The story (with Zau) is that you challenge the god of death as a way to explore the concept of healthy grieving. So, what if a reader was inspired to challenge death itself, leading to the creation of this robot designed to embrace the spirits of the dead.
Salim envisions the game to be priced similarly to Tales of Kenzera: ZAU, which was released at $19.99.
Surgent Studios has developed a fully functional prototype of Project Uso and is seeking a partner to advance the project. Last week, the developer informed employees of layoffs as they seek funding for the project, indicating that the studio, founded by the voice actor of Bayek in Assassin’s Creed Origins, is facing challenging circumstances.
