In 2023, Olivier Madiba, the CEO of Cameroon-based Kiro’o Games, shared a profound insight into the ‘paradox of naivety’. In a PreMortem Games interview, he revealed how his initial lack of industry knowledge became his greatest ally when he first embarked on his journey as a game developer. “Sometimes, knowing a little is better, because some people get paralyzed by knowing too much,” Madiba mused.
As time went on, the industry’s harsh realities began to set in. The studio faced numerous challenges, including repeated rejections from major console makers. However, in 2024 they finally caught the attention of Microsoft. After reviewing Aurion: Legacy of the Kori-Odan, Xbox offered to port the title to their console. “I remember an Xbox developer helping me to understand the console framework for free on Discord, teaching me the optimization, etc. He was so kind and passionate about helping”, said Madiba.
Xbox’s Global Expansion Team Manager in Africa, Temi Afolabi was especially dedicated to the project. He approached porting the studio’s game with the same dedication as a founder. “He answered my WhatsApp questions at 1 AM, and helped us have discussions with the right people from the right sub-teams”, added Madiba.
Glowing reviews
Reflecting on their humble beginnings, Madiba remarked, “It all started 10 years ago when we created our game engine on XNA. At that time, we were too poor to buy Unity or Unreal licenses.” XNA is a free-to-use Microsoft framework. The studio’s journey with Microsoft teams continues to blossom from its inception to date with the current release of Aurion: Legacy of the Kori-Odan on Xbox.
This title has received glowing reviews in the past. The Lab Video Game TV refers to the game as “An Indie Masterpiece” and continues to state, “I will say it without apology, Aurion LKO is the deepest, more story-driven game I have ever played. In all my years doing this, a game story has never hit me so hard.” Geeks Under Grace say Aurion is “a Masterpiece” and rated the game 9/10. RPG Fan points out that Aurion is “Super storytelling” and rated the game 88/100. And according to Kotaku, Aurion is, “An action game with a soul.”
Resilience and creativity
The release of Aurion: Legacy of the Kori-Odan on Xbox marks a significant milestone for Kiro’o Games and the African video games industry. It is a testament to their resilience, creativity, and the supportive community that believes in their vision. As Kiro’o Games continues to grow and innovate, their journey inspires many others in the industry, proving that with passion and persistence, no dream is too big.
To further immerse yourself in the Aurion universe, visit the website, where you will receive 3 free graphic novels. Players can also connect with the community on Discord.