By KaseyStarr | Esports Africa News Nigeria
Let’s face it in Nigeria, if NEPA doesn’t humble you, your internet provider will. Now imagine trying to build a full-fledged video game in that environment. Yep welcome to the world of Gundu Games and our upcoming project: Beyond Service.
But don’t worry, this story from Osinachi Oku Leslie, founder of Goondu Games (Beyond Service) isn’t all doom and generator fumes. It’s actually one of resilience, creativity, and cultural storytelling with just the right sprinkle of chaos that only game development can deliver.
When Ancestors Give You Power, You Use It
So what’s Beyond Service all about?
In one word: redemption.Our protagonist, Soma, was living life as usual until something happened. You know, the kind of mysterious, unexplainable ‘thing’ that turns an ordinary guy into a man on a mission. Through divine intervention from his ancestors, Soma gains supernatural powers and sets out to fight back, seeking justice for his fallen friends and his disrupted world, Osinachi Speaks
And yes, all of this is powered by our very own Unreal Engine. Not to brag (okay, maybe a little), but we’ve been at this for over three years. The current version optimized for mobile is a result of major iterations from our early first-person shooter prototype. That’s how much we listen to feedback.
Built in Nigeria, Powered by Grit
Now, let’s talk about the real boss level, making a game in Nigeria!
First, we battled the usual villains, unreliable power supply, dodgy internet, and the occasional ghosting collaborator who disappears mid-project (shoutout to all the devs who’ve been there!).
Then came the funding challenges. But in 2023, we caught a break: Solana Superteam Nigeria came through with an $8,000 grant. That boost helped us shift gears to mobile development. The plan is to release on Google Play Store by November 2025, then go full throttle to PC by next year.
Gaming With a Nigerian Soul
What sets Beyond Service apart?
It’s built with you in mind. We didn’t just create characters because they looked cool. We asked, What do Nigerian players actually relate to? How do we reflect our local stories, myths, and personalities in a way that excites and entertains?
And let me tell you, people are loving it. Some say it’s too easy, others say it’s too hard. We say it’s just getting started.
Some game features actually started as bugs. That’s right. Just like in Call of Duty where the jump-slide mechanic wasn’t even planned, we’ve had our own happy accidents. Because in gaming, sometimes bugs become blessings.
What’s Next for Beyond Service
We’re not stopping at Android and PC. Our dream is a partnership with Xbox Play Anywhere, so you can enjoy Beyond Service on Xbox consoles, handheld devices, PC, or even your mobile phone. All bases covered.
And if there ever emerges a Nigerian gaming platform exclusively spotlighting homegrown content, count us in. We are patriotic like that.
- Follow Goondu Games @Goondugames
- Follow Osinachi Oku Leslie Leslie Elochukwu Osinachi-Okoh (@leosam24)