Source: Carlo Paloni / Getty / Abubakar Salim / Tales of Kenzera: ZAU
The founder and creative director of Surgent Studios Tales of Kenzera: ZAU Abubakar Salim addressed the constant harassment he and the studio have faced since the game was released.
The video game industry still has a long way to go on diversity and inclusion.
People like Abubakar Salim are working hard to show that Black and Brown people have a place in the game business with the release of his game, Tales of Kenzera: Zau. However, there are still issues that need to be addressed and Salim decided to talk about those challenges that he and his studios have been facing.
On Friday, Salim posted a five-minute video on his personal X/Twitter account to talk about the ongoing harassment that he admits he didn't want to report in the first place.
Salim says he has faced allegations that he “didn't deserve the chance[ies]” he said early in his career, adding, “No, it was just because I'm black, and I turned the other cheek and just kept doing my thing.”
Before giving up his acting, Salim was best known for his roles Assassin's Creed Origins and roles in the original series of MAX Raised By Wolves and its second season Game of Thrones prequel series House of the Dragon.
Salim states in the video that he could dismiss some of the comments, but “when there's a constant barrage of them, it's exhausting.”
The actor/video game creator says the harassment reached a “fever” once his game, Tales of Kenzera: Zaucame to the fore and became the focus of diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) harassment campaigns.
Per IGN:
“Don't get me wrong, there has been such amazing and beautiful support for this game. The fact that it inspired so many people and touched, you know, so many lives, that was one of our goals from the beginning — to have that positive impact, right?'' Salim says. “But at the same time, we face constant targeted harassment from people who see diversity as a threat. From people who look at the vast landscape of modern media and decide that anything that doesn't speak to them or isn't centered around them is unnecessary and inauthentic.”
“And look,” he continues, “there's always a reason why there can't be different stories. You know, it's always either we're doing it the wrong way or it's just there to tick the boxes and it just starts to feel like there's no right way. You know, these rules of exclusion keep piling up and the goalposts keep changing until, you know, me, my studio, people who look like us, just sit back, shut up, and just accept the fact that you're outsiders. But I won't do that.”
“If there are people who aren't like you in a game, I want you to know that the game is still for you,” Salim continues. “You know, if the characters are of a different race or a different gender or you know, a different ideology or a different perspective, that doesn't mean the game isn't for you. It might still be for you.”
Salim addresses the harassment by lowering the price Tales of Kenzera: ZAU Game on Nintendo Switch
The game developer was determined to make his game accessible to as many people as possible by making it available at an affordable price of $20 on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.
To combat the harassment, Salim announced that he has dropped the cost of the game to less than $15 on the Nintendo Switch, thanking Nintendo for “acting quickly on this.”
“I'm working with the team to bring this sale to all platforms and it's going to run between now and the end of June because, you know, it means so much to me, man,” he says.
Salim continues, “I think this is just a way to show you how serious I am about this,” he says. “Games are for everyone. Different games, they are not going to take anything away from you. They intend to add something new because there is room for all of us.”
X Rally behind Abukar Salim
Following the release of his video, the gaming communities rallied behind Salim, offering him plenty of support and applauding his courage and commitment to promoting diversity in gaming.
“This is the message we all need to hear,” said Kinda Funny and Gamertag Radio co-host Paris Lilly wrote.
Senior editor Alyssa Mercante added“So grateful for your work, your vision and your voice and for considering you a friend.”
“Black gamers have been playing as non-Black characters in games for so long and enjoying those games, including us. But there's nothing wrong with also wanting to represent ourselves fairly and authentically in the medium. What we're finding here is that these critics don't want the exact same experience that black gamers have had to live through for most of gaming history. Written by Black Girl Gamers.
We listen to HHW Gaming stand by Abubakar Salim and we will continue to make sure we shine the spotlight on Black and Brown game developers like Salim, Xalavier Nelson Jr. and others.
You can see more messages of support sent to Salim in the gallery below.