Introduction to Relooted

Relooted is an innovative heist game that focuses on reclaiming African artifacts from Western countries that have possessed them for far too long. Developed by the independent South African studio Nyamakop, this game delves into a future timeline where a treaty has been signed by Western nations to return the plundered items to their original African regions. However, things take a turn when these nations begin hiding the artifacts in private collections, prompting a team based in Johannesburg, South Africa, to devise strategies to steal them back.

Gameplay Overview

The game Relooted is structured into missions, each comprising a briefing about the artifact in question, a planning stage for infiltration, and the heist itself. The gameplay seamlessly blends puzzle-solving with action elements as players are tasked with casing buildings, setting up their runs, and executing their plans. The moment the target artifact is obtained, security alarms are triggered, and players must navigate their way out within a limited timeframe, emphasizing the importance of thorough preparation.

Background and Inspiration

In the reveal video for Relooted at the Day of the Devs, producer Sithe Ncube references a striking statistic from a pivotal 2018 report on African cultural heritage. The report highlights that approximately 90 percent of sub-Saharan African cultural heritage is held in Western collections, amounting to millions of culturally, spiritually, and personally significant artifacts, including human remains, that are not in their rightful place. The locations in the game are fictional, but the 70 artifacts that players must reclaim are real and currently situated in Western and private collections, far from their homes and original owners.

Developer Insight

Nyamakop, one of the largest independent game studios in sub-Saharan Africa, boasts around 30 developers working tirelessly on Relooted. Their previous title, Semblance, a globular platformer, marked a milestone as the first African-developed IP to be featured on a Nintendo console, specifically the Switch, in 2018. To achieve this, Nyamakop co-founder Ben Myres had to undertake a journey of bootstrapping around the world, securing one-way tickets and forging new partnerships at various game festivals. Myres shared his experience with Engadget at E3 2018, detailing the challenges faced by indie game developers in South Africa, including the lack of local market size, contacts, and representation from major platform holders like Xbox and Sony, necessitating travel to Western shows to meet press and potential partners.

Growth and Vision

Since 2018, Nyamakop has experienced significant growth. Relooted stands as an unabashedly African game, developed by a majority-POC team. In a conversation with GamesIndustry.biz in 2024, Sithe Ncube discussed the concept of making games for Africans, emphasizing the need and potential demand for African-created content not just within the continent but also outside of it. However, Ncube also pointed out the challenges and uncertainties in this endeavor, including the question of whether such games would garner a substantial player base.

Release Details

Relooted is currently under development for Steam, the Epic Games Store, and Xbox Series X/S. Although a firm release date has not been announced, the game is available for wishlisting. This game represents a unique blend of cultural significance, thrilling gameplay, and the pioneering efforts of an African game development studio aiming to tell stories and reclaim heritage in a digital age.