Tales of Kenzera: Zaum is a tale about grief from the perspective of a creator and actor who experienced personal loss. It’s also quite a risky endeavour to fund your own studio to make your game about this topic for a year or two, especially when you have to design a search action game around it while not compromising your vision.

That’s what Abubakar Salim’s Surgent Studio has done, and is getting quite a bit of conversations surrounding it following its release a few months back. Kakuchopurei’s Australian correspondent Dhayana “MissDeusGeek” Sena managed to chat with the man known for being the voice of Assassin’s Creed Origins’ main man Bayek and for being a prominent actor in the HBO series House of Dragons.

Dhayana: Thank you for taking the time to chat with me, Abu! First off, welcome to Australia. How are you finding it here?
Abubakar Salim: Thank you! I’m loving it. It’s a beautiful city, and everyone has been incredibly welcoming. I’ve wanted to come here for a while, so this was the perfect reason to finally make the trip.

Dhayana: How have you been enjoying PAX so far? Have you had a chance to see much?
Abubakar Salim: It’s been amazing, though I haven’t had much time to explore the floor fully yet. I’ve mostly been doing panels and meetings, which has been great, but the atmosphere here feels so vibrant and wholesome. It’s less frantic than other conventions, which I really like.

Dhayana: Jumping into your career, you played Bayek in Assassin’s Creed Origins, which was very well-received globally. How did stepping into such a pivotal role shape your career and influence your work on House of the Dragon?
Abubakar Salim: Playing Bayek had a huge impact on me. I’ve always been a fan of Assassin’s Creed, so being part of that world was surreal. It made me really appreciate the storytelling aspect of games and taught me a lot about immersing myself in a world much bigger than me. That commitment to a bigger narrative definitely carried over to my portrayal of Alyn in House of the Dragon.

Dhayana: From acting to founding Surgent Studios, how did your journey into game development begin, and what inspired you to create Tales of Kenzera: Zau as your debut title?
Abubakar Salim: Funny enough, it started with Assassin’s Creed. Ubisoft allowed me to see the behind-the-scenes process of game development, which opened my eyes to the amount of passion and detail that goes into making games. It made me realize that games are created by people who truly care about the medium. That experience inspired me to create something personal and meaningful. Tales of Kenzera is that project for me—a game that’s fun and enjoyable but also deeply honest and reflective of my own experiences.

Dhayana: I understand that Tales of Kenzera was inspired by your father’s passing and your experience with grief. How do you approach themes of loss and grief in the game’s narrative, and what do you hope players take away from it?
Abubakar Salim: For me, it was essential that every aspect of the game—from mechanics to levels—reflects different shades of grief. I worked closely with the design, art, and audio teams to capture that. My experience of grief felt vivid and heightened, like seeing the world in hyper-color.

I wanted the game to reflect that, and I hope players take their own personal journey from it. Whether it’s accepting loss or recognizing it as something that will always be a part of them, I want players to feel that it’s okay to not be okay.

Dhayana: Diversity and representation in gaming is something I’m passionate about. What are your thoughts on the current state of representation in the industry, and how does your game contribute to that conversation?
Abubakar Salim: We’re at an interesting moment. There’s been great progress, but now we’re seeing some backlash, possibly due to the political climate. Still, I believe diversity will naturally become more integrated as more people get involved in making games. I want games to be seen as art first and business second, like film and TV. If we approach games with that mindset, we’ll naturally tell more varied and authentic stories, bringing in voices and experiences from all backgrounds.

Dhayana: Your game draws on your Kenyan heritage, and we’re also seeing more games exploring unique cultural stories, like Assassin’s Creed Shadows, which delves into Japanese history. Do you think these stories help younger generations understand the world better?
Abubakar Salim: Absolutely. These games show that the world is much bigger than any single place. Embracing different cultures and experiences broadens our perspectives and helps us grow. It’s important to embrace the unknown, as it’s through that openness that humanity evolves.

Dhayana: What are your aspirations for Surgent Studios, and can you share any hints about future projects?
Abubakar Salim: I’m inspired by exploring universal themes, like grief in Tales of Kenzera. For future projects, I’d love to explore themes like parenthood—maybe even through a rogue-like structure where the daily routine is ever-present but challenging. I want Surgent to tell stories that feel authentic, whether through games, films, or other mediums. We have some really exciting things cooking!

Dhayana: And finally, what’s next for you?
Abubakar Salim: I can’t say too much, but there are some cool things on the horizon—both personally and with the studio. Exciting stuff, for sure! [Editor’s note: before this interview, Surgent Studio announced that it’s working on an Afro Gothic RPG]

Tales of Kenzera: Zaum is out now for PC and consoles.