Tales of Kenzera: Zau

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This year at the BAFTA Game Awards, “Tales of Kenzera: Zau” bagged its nomination in the “Game Beyond Entertainment” category. BAFTA describes this category as honoring games that offer a life-changing experience beyond mere entertainment. It was a significant milestone for the entire team behind “Tales of Kenzera: Zau”, as executive producer Alix Wilton Regan expressed her excitement, stating that winning this award had been her top priority.

Recently, Game Rant had a chat with Wilton Regan, an actress well-known to many for her roles such as Samantha Traynor in Mass Effect 3, The Inquisitor in Dragon Age: Inquisition, and The Veilguard, Aya/Amunet from Assassin’s Creed Origins, or Alt Cunningham in Cyberpunk 2077. During our conversation, we discussed her career journey and her first foray into a development role with the game Tales of Kenzera: Zau.

She indicated that not much persuasion was required when offered the executive producer role on a game close to Abubakar Salim’s heart. Abubakar Salim, an actor, developer, and founder of Surgent Studios, inquired if she would contribute financially, seek additional funding outside EA Originals, and provide input during development. She explained that her involvement was more about being available when necessary and giving him the space to realize his vision for the project.

The concept behind this vision has consistently mirrored BAFTA’s understanding of Game Beyond Entertainment. It isn’t to say that light-hearted or entertaining games are flawed; it’s just not what Salim envisioned. To put it simply, the game Tales of Kenzera: Zau tells the story of a young shaman who aims to resurrect his father by fulfilling obligations for the God of Death. However, on a deeper level, it explores themes such as coping with parental loss and grief – experiences that Salim personally encountered at a relatively young age. The team, led by Wilton Regan, strived to maintain this vision throughout their work on the project.

The game, Zau, centers around conveying a profound message about grief following the loss of a parent. Since Abu encountered this situation at a younger age than many, we aimed to create an engaging and authentic in-game experience for players to navigate processing such a loss. Even if individuals haven’t personally experienced the loss of a parent, grief is a universal theme that resonates with everyone. I consider myself fortunate as my parents are still alive, but I’ve certainly lost loved ones. Ultimately, Zau’s core message is that death is an integral aspect of life.

As a dedicated friend and fellow gamer, my support for Salim didn’t stop when his game hit the shelves. Just like a good mate, I was there for him all along. When the BAFTAs were about to announce the winner, I glanced away from the stage and the announcer, searching for Salim amidst the crowd. And there he was, right in time for them to call out Tales of Kenzera: Zau as the victor (and yes, they did!). It was a heartwarming moment to witness his game, his dream, taking home an award I’d hoped it would. For gamers and developers alike, there’s no denying that Tales of Kenzera: Zau stands for more than just entertainment – it’s a Game Beyond Entertainment. Of course, everyone got to celebrate in the triumph of their collective effort, with Wilton Regan adding, “We all share in this victory.

It’s wonderful that we all get to celebrate the win since the award belongs to the game itself. In other words, we all share in the triumph of the BAFTA honor. Today, there has been a flood of messages exchanged among producers, supporters, and others involved in the game’s creation. And let me tell you, it’s an incredibly heartwarming feeling.

Wilton Regan’s involvement in the gaming industry persists and shows no signs of slowing down. Last year, it was revealed that she would voice Joanna Dark in the upcoming reboot of Perfect Dark. Additionally, she is set to appear in other games due for release this year, although specific titles have yet to be disclosed. When asked about potential future roles in game development, Regan responded enthusiastically: “Definitely, yes! I might even be doing some right now, so keep an eye out!

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2025-04-10 19:00