When we released our announcement teaser, the reactions were mostly incredible (As of writing this, we’ve crossed 2M+ views, yay!). People were excited, curious, and intrigued. We couldn’t have asked for a better response. 

But a few comments stood out... 

Then there’s another group of well-intentioned folks (we love you, but...) who support the game just because it’s Tamil.  

These polar opposite takes share a common thread: they both assume the game’s value lies only in its cultural label. Both positions flatten the game. And that’s the very idea we want to push back against! 

Culture Isn’t a Gimmick. It’s Game Design. 

Culture is often used like a sticker pack, like exotic props, and like aesthetic fillers. We’ve seen it in movies and games and other media. 

But, that’s not what we’re building. 

Culture, in our game, is not a costume; it’s the very fabric of the game. 

Take the Surul Vaal, our signature weapon. It’s not an exotic prop. Our entire combat philosophy is designed around it. Its coiled blade forces us to rethink spacing, timing, and rhythm, leading to a system that simply couldn’t exist without it. 

The temples are community hubs and are how power flows in the capital city. They’re not pretty backdrops. In the same way, food, music, and art aren’t decorative – they appear in how characters express emotions.  

In Son of Thanjai, you can’t just strip off Tamil culture. The world, mechanics, and atmosphere would break. Because they’re built from the ground up with cultural logic. 

That’s not a gimmick. That’s game design. 

Culture Isn’t a Gimmick. It’s Responsibility. 

On the flip side, when people say: “I’ll support this game no matter what because it’s Tamil.”, we appreciate the love. Truly.  

But we also don’t want our heritage to be a free pass. If we endorse this, it’d be taking you all for granted. Worse, we’d be using culture as a shortcut to differentiation.  

We’re not asking for blind loyalty. We want players to critique, question, and demand the same quality from Son of Thanjai that they would from any other global game.  

So, when Son of Thanjai eventually lands in your hands, don’t play it to support us and our culture. Play it because you care about fluid combat. Play it because you love layered stories. Play it because it’s a game that deserves to be played. 

Culture Isn’t a Gimmick. It's Our Foundation. 

We’re not making a cultural exhibit disguised as a game. Son of Thanjai will never gatekeep or lecture. It’s an invitation to players–wherever they’re from–to immerse themselves in a world that feels detailed, authentic, and alive.  

So no, culture isn’t a gimmick... 

It’s the lens through which our story comes to life. If we do our job right, you won’t just see Tamil culture on the screen. You’ll experience it when you fight, explore, and make choices. 

It’s a responsibility we take seriously at Ayelet. And the best way to honor that responsibility is to build a game that stands tall on its own merits. 

That’s what excites us. That’s what keeps us going.  

And I can’t wait for you to experience it.