In an era where interactive storytelling has emerged as one of our most potent cultural exports, British Columbia stands at the forefront of a creative revolution. Our spotlight series on the province’s video game ecosystem reveals not merely an industry, but a constellation of visionary studios reshaping the very language of digital narrative—creators whose work deserves recognition far beyond B.C.
The series opens with Remy Siu, founder and creative director of Sunset Visitor 斜陽過客, a Vancouver studio that exemplifies the artistic sophistication now defining Canadian game development. Drawing from backgrounds in performing arts and multimedia, Siu and their team have crafted something remarkable: 1000xRESIST, a debut title that transcends conventional gaming categories to become a genuine interactive narrative.
Sunset Visitor 斜陽過客
Released in May of 2024, the work weaves together themes of intergenerational trauma, familial bonds, and speculative fiction into what critics have hailed as a masterpiece of the medium. The accolades speak to its cultural significance: a Peabody Award for interactive and immersive storytelling, placing it alongside the finest television and film, and recognition for artistic excellence at the Canadian Game Awards.
This is the calibre of creative work emerging from British Columbia’s studios, work that positions our creators not as mere entertainers, but as the next generation’s essential storytellers.
Remy opens up about the defining choices that shaped 1000xRESIST’s development, the cultural and artistic influences that drove its creation, and why supporting Canadian game development matters more than ever.
Who are you, and what is your role in the video game industry here in B.C?
My name is Remy Siu, I’m the founder and creative director of Sunset Visitor 斜陽過客. Our debut game is 1000xRESIST.
What tough choices or sacrifices did you have to make throughout your development process?
We all worked pretty hard near the end to make it happen. I went off salary for 6-7 months leading up to the release of 1000xRESIST, and a little while after.
Do you have any other gaming titles that acted as inspiration for the one you are currently developing and/or have developed?
Kentucky Route Zero, Nier Automata, and the original Final Fantasy VII.
If you could make your dream game, what would that game look like and why?
I can’t say hahaha. But I will say, I do feel like I get to make ‘dream games,’ 1000xRESIST was a dream game for me. We’re a writer driven studio, so we’re always searching for topics and thematics that have room for us to dig in.
How do any of your games, or the one you are currently developing, break conventional norms? How are they unique?
I think on paper 1000xRESIST shouldn’t exist. It’s a narrative, sci-fi adventure game featuring a cast consisting of 95% Asian-Canadian women or non-binary actors (30+ actors). It digs into familial pain, love, and revolution. There’s no combat, only story. It’s bilingual in Cantonese and English. It focuses on the local, here in Vancouver.
What story is this game attempting to tell with its gameplay, narrative, or art?
A future mythmaking for the Asian diaspora, and specifically Hong Kong diaspora.
What about British Columbia has influenced your games, art direction, or environment?
Our practice and process is extremely local! Many of us come from the experimental performance arts here in Vancouver. Our mentors are from here. And our cast is almost entirely Vancouver-based. One of our goals is to highlight local talent and practices right here in Vancouver.
In a way, it’s counter to the more internationalized, remote focus these days. We are focused on finding and fostering talent with a connection to B.C.
What is the importance of supporting Canadian-made games?
We have a lot of amazing indie studios and artistic voices in Canada, and specifically here in B.C., I believe. Because there is less private investment in Canada in general, I think it’s important for programs like Creative BC, Ontario Creates, and the Canada Media Fund to support Canadian voices in games. I think an everyday person would be surprised by how many beloved indie hits are made in Canada!
If you could say one thing to aspiring gamedevs who might just be starting, what would your words of wisdom be?
Know what is important in your game and focus on it, have clear priorities, and embrace constraints! Turn your weaknesses into strengths in a creative way.
1000XRESIST, Sunset Visitor 斜陽過客
Remy’s journey and the creative philosophy behind Sunset Visitor 斜陽過客 represent something profound in contemporary cultural production. Through its nuanced exploration of Asian Canadian identity, isolation, and the complex architecture of family relationships, 1000xRESIST stands as a testament to the power of authentic storytelling rooted in lived experience. That such sophisticated work emerges from British Columbia’s creative ecosystem speaks to the province’s position as a significant cultural force.
This inaugural profile marks the beginning of our ongoing examination of the studios defining B.C.’s digital landscape. Each installment aims to illuminate the creative processes and cultural contributions of the artists reshaping interactive media, offering insight into a community whose influence extends far beyond entertainment into the realm of genuine artistic expression.
