Surgent Studios, the developer behind Afrofuturist metroidvania Tales of Kenzera: Zau, has teamed up with Palworld publisher Pocketpair to release its next game.
Set for release in 2025, it will be a horror game but not part of the Tales of Kenzera universe.
Last year’s Tales of Kenzera: Zau, published by EA, was the first in the series, with more games planned to continue that world. However, this next game will be a shorter and separate project.
“Both Surgent and Pocketpair are well-versed in taking risks. We noticed a pattern in the entertainment industry, and Pocketpair has given us the opportunity to make a horror game about it. It will be short and weird, and we think players will be interested in what we have to say,” said Surgent Studios CEO Abubakar Salim.
“We’re still in earnest conversation about further projects set in the Tales of Kenzera universe, but this will be a standalone piece: a mile marker between where we’ve come from and where we’re going.”
Pocketpair Publishing is the company’s new publishing wing.
“As the games industry continues to grow, more and more games find themselves struggling to get funded or greenlit,” said head of Pocketpair Publishing John Buckley. “We think this is a real shame, because there are so many incredible creators and ideas out there that just need a little help to become incredible games.