Actor Abubakar Salim Draws Inspiration from Father’s Loss to Create Debut Video Game
Abubakar Salim: New game inspired by grief for my father https://t.co/AbfHALPXRo
— BBC News Technology (@BBCTech) December 16, 2023
Abubakar Salim, a versatile actor known for his roles in films, TV, and games, reveals that the profound grief of losing his father motivated him to venture into the world of video game development.
Growing up in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, 30-year-old Abubakar Salim shared a special bond with his father, Ali Salim, fueled by their shared love for video games. At the recent Video Game Awards in Los Angeles, Salim took the stage to announce his debut video game, “Tales of Kenzera: ZAU.”
Opening up about the experience, Salim admitted feeling vulnerable during the announcement, stating, “I felt like I was being naked on stage.” Following his father’s death from cancer in 2013, Salim felt a strong urge to face the challenges head-on and channel his emotions into a creative outlet. He acknowledged the cultural stigma around expressing sadness and emotion, particularly in his background.
In 2019, Salim founded Surgent Studios with the aim of creating a game that would serve as a therapeutic exploration of his grief. The game became a medium for him to communicate with his late father, expressing sentiments he wished he had shared. Despite lacking prior experience in game development, Salim, known for his roles in TV shows like Black Mirror and games like Assassin’s Creed Origins, embraced the challenge.
Discussing the power of games as a storytelling medium, Salim emphasized the unique, immersive experience they offer. “What is really powerful about games is you actively go on a journey with the characters instead of passively watching it,” he explained.
“Tales of Kenzera: ZAU” belongs to the Metroidvania genre, where players navigate a vast world, discover special items, and backtrack to access previously unreachable areas. Salim believes this genre resonates with the essence of grief, where players must navigate challenges, make mistakes, and continually retrace their steps.
Despite being inspired by loss, Salim insists that the game is a celebration of life. He describes it as a form of therapeutic celebration that honors the relationships people had. “It’s almost like its own little therapy, but it’s celebratory as well; it’s celebrating the relationships we did have,” he shared.
The much-anticipated “Tales of Kenzera: ZAU” is scheduled for release on April 23.
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