Tales of Kenzera: Zau Developer Surgent Studios Hit With Layoffs

Tales of Kenzera: Zau developer Surgent Studios has been hit with a round of layoffs, the studio confirmed in a statement on X/Twitter on Tuesday.

The statement, which you can read in full below, clarifies that just over a dozen employees were affected, acknowledging that Surgent is unfortunately only one of many studios seeing layoffs this year.

pic.twitter.com/gulWFDsFZS

— Surgent Studios | ZAU OUT NOW (@surgentstudios) July 2, 2024

“It’s a difficult time in the games industry, but we remain incredibly proud of our entire team’s work on ZAU and of the praise it has recieved from critics and players alike,” the statement says. “Our focus now is on supporting those affected, continuing our work on ZAU, and looking to the future with our next creative projects.”

Surgent Studios founder and Tales of Kenzera director Abubakar Salim also shared the statement on his X/Twitter account shortly after it was posted, writing “This hurts deeply. This isn’t the news I wanted to share today.”

Thank you so much to those who have checked in. This hurts deeply. This isn’t the news I wanted to share today.

I am so proud of what the team have acheieved over the course of these 4 years. When things got tough, every one of them stood so strong, it was inspiring.

So to be… https://t.co/Q0C7H5udvv

— Abubakar Salim (@Abzybabzy) July 2, 2024

“I am so proud of what the team have acheieved over the course of these 4 years. When things got tough, every one of them stood so strong, it was inspiring,” Salim added. “So to be delivering this news today really sucks. I know we’re not alone here, but that doesn’t make it easier.”

He also threaded links to affected employees as they search for new work.

Prior to Surgent’s statement, Game Developer had noted that a number of the studio’s employees shared on LinkedIn and other social media platforms that they were looking for work. The news comes just three months after the release of Tales of Kenzera, Surgent’s debut title.

As Surgent’s statement notes, Tales of Kenzera drew positive reviews when it launched on April 23 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X | S, and PC. In our 7/10 review, we said the Metroidvania “isn’t groundbreaking within the genre, but its elevated by a truly moving tale about how to go on in this world when your loved ones have passed on to the next.”

2024 continues to be a tough year for game industry layoffs, with major cuts at companies including Microsoft, Sony, EA, Take-Two Interactive, Square Enix, and much more.

Alex Stedman is a Senior News Editor with IGN, overseeing entertainment reporting. When she’s not writing or editing, you can find her reading fantasy novels or playing Dungeons & Dragons.