Tales of Kenzera: Zau Team Put on Redundancy Notice Amid Funding Struggles

Tales of Kenzera: Zau development studio Surgent Studios shared an update today stating it had put its team on notice for redundancy amid efforts to secure funding for its next project.

Help us bring our vision to life. https://t.co/ULAKd6wYxX pic.twitter.com/tZjnSqEP3A

— Surgent Studios | ZAU OUT NOW (@surgentstudios) October 18, 2024

“We’ve decided to put the work of the Surgent games division on hiatus while we secure funding for our next project,” the update reads. “In the meantime, we’ve unfortunately had to put our team on notice for redundancy.

“Our team has created a prototype for a bold new project,” the update later continues. “It’s darker, edgier, and more visceral than our first game, but it retains all ZAU’s high-octane combat and cultural depth. And we’re looking for a partner.”

Tales of Kenzera: Zau is the first release from Surgent Studios, which was founded by actor Abubakar Salim in 2020. The game received generally positive critical reviews, including our own 7/10 review that said while its action wasn’t groundbreaking, “it’s elevated by a truly moving tale about how to go on in this world when your loved ones have passed on to the next.”

Our work on #ZauTheGame is coming to a close (although there’s a little more on the way).

Now we’re looking to the future with our next project…and we need a partner.

We have a few irons in the fire, but YOU can help move the needle by telling us what you thought of ZAU and… https://t.co/AAMyp4YGAL

— Abubakar Salim (@Abzybabzy) October 18, 2024

Despite the game’s positive reception, Surgent Studios has had a rocky year. The studio and its members have been the victim of a growing campaign of ongoing, targeted harassment since Tales of Kenzera: Zau’s release, to the point where Salim addressed the wave of hatred in a public message back in May. And earlier this year, Surgent laid off “just over a dozen” developers, citing “a difficult time in the games industry.” These cuts come as part of a wider trend in layoffs sweeping the industry as project funding dries up, leading to over 13,000 individuals laid off just this year.

Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to [email protected].