EA Originals and Surgent Studios Reveal Tales of Kenzera™: ZAU, an Indie Game Built as an Ode to a Lost Father Through a Thrilling and Kinetic Adventure

In Memory of His Dad, Studio Founder Abubakar Salim Sets First Game in Bantu-Inspired Mystical Realm, Telling a Heartfelt Story About Finding Courage Within Oneself After Loss
Watch the Reveal Trailer Here and Pre-Order Now for In-Game Perks and a 10% DiscountREDWOOD CITY, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Today, Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA) and Surgent Studios unveiled Tales of Kenzera™: ZAU, a heartfelt single-player action-adventure platformer that brings a new take on the experience of finding hope and courage after loss. Inspired by Surgent Studios founder and BAFTA-nominated actor Abubakar Salim’s own personal journey dealing with the loss of his father and their deep mutual bond of video games, Tales of Kenzera: ZAU celebrates Abubakar’s father through a metroidvania style action-adventure platformer while showcasing how greatness comes from resilience.
“For a long time, I’ve struggled to find a way of communicating my journey with grief. To now be able to do that through Zau’s story of loss, growth and healing in Tales of Kenzera: ZAU feels so right,” said Abubakar Salim. “Games, to me, are the most powerful medium to share stories. My late father introduced me to the medium, and what better way of honoring him, our relationship and love than through this experience? I am extremely grateful and proud of the team of creatives that have helped craft Surgent Studios, and I’m beyond thrilled to have EA Originals give me the platform and space to share this story together with them.”
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 millennium 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 releases on April 23, 2024 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam, Epic Games Store and EA app for $19.99 USD. Pre-orders are available now and include two shaman points unlocking up to two skills in-game, Kalunga’s Blessing visual effect variant, as well as Tales of Kenzera: ZAU digital companion comic, Soulshifters, which dives deeper into the rich lore of Kenzera.*
Watch the Reveal Trailer here. For more information and to stay up to date on Tales of Kenzera: ZAU, visit https://www.ea.com/games/tales-of-kenzera/zau.
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About Surgent Studios
Surgent Studios brings a pioneering philosophy to storytelling across film, games, television and emerging media. Our captivating storyworlds are designed to be told across multiple platforms, allowing us to bring each story to life in the most compelling medium. We’re driven to explore unique perspectives in search of what makes us all human. For more information, visit https://www.surgentstudios.com/.
About EA Originals
This is EA Originals. A place where we dare to explore new and untold stories with worlds yet to be discovered. We’re driven by a passion for innovative experiences and fresh creative stories. We seek out brave developers with bold artistic vision as we help them reach larger global audiences while enjoying their creative freedom. To discover more, visit www.ea.com/ea-originals.
About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:EA) is a global leader in digital interactive entertainment. The Company develops and delivers games, content and online services for Internet-connected consoles, mobile devices and personal computers.
In fiscal year 2023, EA posted GAAP net revenue of approximately $7.4 billion. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, EA is recognized for a portfolio of critically acclaimed, high-quality brands such as EA SPORTS FC™, Battlefield™, Apex Legends™, The Sims™, Madden NFL, Need for Speed™, Titanfall™, Plants vs. Zombies™ and F1®. More information about EA is available at www.ea.com/news.
EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS FC, Battlefield, Need for Speed, Apex Legends, The Sims, Titanfall, and Plants vs. Zombies are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. John Madden, NFL, and F1 are the property of their respective owners and used with permission.
*Conditions and restrictions apply. See http://ea.com/games/tales-of-kenzera/zau/disclaimers for details. Contacts
Cristian Delgado
Sr. PR Manager
crdelgado@ea.com