By McKenna Dalton ’26, lead communications and engagement intern
Kai Davis ’23 is the founder and creative director of Far Owl Studios, an independent game development group established in 2019. The studio aims to create immersive, narrative-driven gaming experiences that stand out in the industry by crafting unique, lifelike worlds. Far Owl Studios is currently working on Penumbras, a tile-based strategy game where players lead a squad of religious Inquisitor unicorn deer hunting a heretic.
Kai’s passion for blending emotional depth, fast-paced strategy, and puzzle elements drives the studio’s creativity. He’s been gaming since age five, drawing inspiration from strategy games like Destiny, Dune, Call of Duty, and tactical influences from XCOM. His academic background as a French major and computer science minor at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø helped shape Penumbras. Kai’s time studying abroad in France exposed him to new cultural perspectives, enriching the game’s narrative and empathy-driven design.
Since graduating in 2023, Kai has been working on Far Owl Studios full time alongside a global team of ten developers, whom he connected with through word-of-mouth and Discord servers. Self-funding the project so far, they are now seeking publishers to support its continued development. As the team works on their respective segments, Kai not only oversees and unifies the project but also contributes directly to the game development, a combination that fuels his motivation.
The biggest challenges for Kai are scope management and staying true to the game’s core themes. Securing consistent 3D talent has also been a hurdle, but with the support of his parents and a network of developers, Kai remains committed. He credits 51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s Thought Into Action (TIA) program for providing funding, mentorship, and practical insights that helped him develop his business. In particular, mentor Steve Rock ’85 has been instrumental in Kai’s journey.
Looking ahead, Kai and Far Owl Studios will present Penumbras at the GDEX gaming convention in Ohio this October, showcasing a prototype (vertical slice) to potential stakeholders. They were also accepted into the International Game Developers Association’s District Arcade in Washington, DC, this November. To continue their growth, Far Owl Studios is currently seeking a 3D character artist experienced in stylized, low-poly graphics, as well as a music producer skilled in sound design and classical orchestration. The team plans to attend PAX East next year, continue refining the game, and aim for a potential release in late 2025 or 2026.
We’re excited to see what’s next for Kai and Far Owl Studios. Kai’s journey has taught him resilience, scope management, and the importance of trusting his instincts. His advice to aspiring game developers is to stay true to their vision while embracing new challenges. To support Penumbras and stay updated, you can subscribe to their newsletter. For a behind-the-scenes look at the development process, catch Kai’s live streams on Twitch every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. EDT. Depending on future deals, Penumbras could be released on Steam, Epic Games, and possibly Xbox or PlayStation.
For inquiries, contact farowlstudios@gmail.com.