Tales of Kenzera: Zau Team Faces Layoffs Over Funding Issues

Surgent Studios, the developer of Tales of Kenzera: Zau, has announced the team is facing redundancy as they struggle to secure funding for their next project. The studio has decided to pause work in the games division, despite having a prototype for a new, darker game that promises to retain its predecessor's high-octane combat. This follows a challenging year for Surgent, including layoffs and continued harassment towards the team since Zau's release. Tales of Kenzera: Zau, which explores themes of loss, received generally favorable reviews, highlighting its engaging narrative alongside action gameplay.

Surgent Studios is currently facing challenges in securing funding for their upcoming game project, which has led them to put their team on redundancy notice and temporarily halt production on new content.

Tales of Kenzera: Zau is a narrative-driven action game that was released in April 2024. Developed by Surgent Studios and founded by actor Abubakar Salim, the game tells a poignant story about coping with loss, emphasizing emotional depth intertwined with engaging combat mechanics. Despite its critical acclaim, Surgent Studios has reported difficulties due to harassment against its team and broader industry trends that have seen significant layoffs and funding challenges this year.