How Abubakar Salim’s journey from actor to game developer transformed his perspective on gaming as art
The Dual Perspective: Actor Turned Developer
During PAX Australia 2024, we connected with multi-talented creator Abubakar Salim to explore gaming’s evolving landscape through his unique dual perspective.
Abubakar Salim, renowned for his portrayal of Alyn of Hull in HBO’s House of the Dragon and Bayek of Siwa in Assassin’s Creed Origins, has expanded his creative footprint by founding Surgent Studios. The studio’s debut title, Tales of Kenzera: Zau, represents both a professional milestone and personal meditation on processing grief following his father’s passing.
Amidst the vibrant atmosphere of Australia’s premier gaming convention, we secured valuable time with Salim during his demanding PAX Australia schedule to discuss how developing games transformed his engagement with interactive entertainment.
Salim’s journey into game development began with his emotional introduction of Tales of Kenzera: Zau at The Game Awards 2023. The project emerged as therapeutic exploration of loss, informed by his personal experience with paternal bereavement. During his PAX Australia panel discussion, he reflected on how his father originally cultivated his gaming passion and their shared interactive experiences.
As a self-identified capital ‘G’ Gamer, we investigated how creating a video game from inception altered Salim’s relationship with his preferred leisure activity.
“The development process fundamentally deepened my respect for developers and their craft,” Salim revealed. “While I’ve always recognized games as legitimate artistic expression, understanding the technical and creative mechanics behind production proved transformative.”
This evolved perspective extends to film and television projects, where Salim now possesses enhanced comprehension of the intensive labor involved in large-scale productions, particularly within interactive media environments.
“There exists genuine magic in understanding creative processes,” he expanded. “Having developed a complete game, I now perceive interactive entertainment through an entirely different lens.”
Bridging Worlds: Introducing Gaming to Hollywood
Surprisingly, when questioning Salim about sharing gaming enthusiasm with colleagues on productions like House of the Dragon or Raised by Wolves, he disclosed limited engagement with dedicated gamers among his acting peers.
“Their immediate gaming reference typically defaults to sports titles like FIFA,” Salim noted humorously. Though initially less invested in gaming than himself, he expressed genuine enjoyment in introducing colleagues to broader interactive experiences.
“Particularly within House of The Dragon circles, announcing ‘I play or create games’ typically prompts curious inquiries,” he shared. “This creates opportunities to introduce them to entirely new creative dimensions.”
His House of the Dragon co-star Steve Toussaint, celebrated for his performance as Corlys Velaryon, contributed voice work to Tales of Kenzera: Zau. Despite portraying Bomani and appearing in Disney’s Prince of Persia adaptation, Toussaint hadn’t previously engaged with gaming as recreational pursuit.
“The situation contained delightful irony—he possessed limited gaming knowledge initially,” Salim explained. “After discussing the project and involving him creatively, he developed genuine appreciation for gaming’s artistic dimensions.”
Salim expressed astonishment that professionals immersed in narrative-focused mediums remained largely unfamiliar with gaming’s storytelling potential.
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The Art vs. Business Debate
“It presents fascinating dynamics because gaming’s narrative capabilities haven’t fully resonated with mainstream audiences,” Salim contemplated. He believes industry insiders must actively bridge this comprehension gap.
“My crucial industry realization centers on gaming’s predominant treatment as commercial enterprise rather than artistic medium,” he clarified. “Increased recognition as creative expression would empower bolder games to receive celebration for their innovation rather than niche categorization.”
Similar to entertainment sectors, video games offer substantial financial potential, naturally attracting corporate interest. However, Salim contends this commercial focus damages gaming’s external perception among non-enthusiasts.
“Major publishers increasingly adopt games-as-service models for understandable reasons,” he observed. “They pursue replication of Fortnite’s financial success because profitability drives corporate decisions.”
“Gaming’s essence shouldn’t prioritize monetization,” he continued passionately. “Core focus should emphasize expression, enjoyment, narrative craftsmanship, connection, and interactivity—areas where film and television excel through storytelling and entertainment.”
“Once this artistic prioritization gains acceptance, gaming will achieve recognition as storytelling vehicle rather than commercial product.”
Practical Insights for Aspiring Developers
Transitioning between entertainment sectors requires strategic approach and realistic expectations. Based on Salim’s experience, aspiring developers should consider these practical considerations.
Career Transition Strategies: Begin with small, manageable projects that allow skill development without overwhelming scope. Salim’s Surgent Studios started with Tales of Kenzera: Zau—a personally meaningful but technically achievable first project. Build industry connections through gaming events and collaborations.
Common Development Pitfalls: Avoid underestimating production timelines—even experienced professionals encounter unexpected delays. Don’t sacrifice artistic vision for commercial trends, but remain aware of market realities. Balance creative ambition with technical feasibility to ensure project completion.
Industry Navigation Tips: Develop thick skin for criticism while maintaining creative integrity. Understand that gaming audiences differ from film/TV viewers—interactive storytelling requires different narrative techniques. Build diverse teams with complementary skills rather than relying solely on existing entertainment industry contacts.
Artistic Preservation Methods: Document your creative process to maintain vision consistency throughout development. Establish clear artistic boundaries early to prevent commercial pressures from diluting core concepts. Seek collaborators who share your creative philosophy and understand gaming’s unique expressive potential.
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