Behind the Scenes of HAWKED: Culture, Creativity & Renegades

Between 2022 and 2025, I had the absolute blast of working on HAWKED, a project co-published by The 4 Winds Entertainment and MYGAMES. Our team’s mission? Make this unique game feel even more alive by celebrating cultural stories and heritage—especially from the regions we know and love.

We saw HAWKED’s quirky, rebellious charm and its community of passionate players as the perfect canvas to do something bigger. That meant leaning into local cultures and turning them into in-game experiences. Over the years, we’ve brought in everything from Turkic influences inspired by the nomadic Yörüks tribes to a more recent wave of content inspired by Amazigh and Arabic cultures.

And guess what? It clicked.

The game's been a breakout hit in the Arabic-speaking world. It hit top download charts on PS5 in Saudi Arabia, and became the most-played free-to-play game on Xbox there too. We’ve seen a vibrant wave of regional content creators, critics, and everyday players praise HAWKED for being fun, fresh, and full of life. That feedback is everything.

Crafting Culture-Driven Content

One of my proudest contributions to HAWKED was leading the in-game cultural content rooted in the Arab world and the broader Turkic region. As someone with Arab heritage, it felt personal—and honestly, incredibly fulfilling.

We didn’t want to stop at just translating the game. We wanted to embed culture in the world itself, with cosmetics, items, emotes, and gear that feel rooted in local stories. Here are a few of the items we brought to life with our amazing art, design, and publishing teams:

• Berber Corsair – Channeling the fierce, adventurous spirit of Amazigh women.

• Atlas Locker – A mountaineer's gear stash, reimagined for renegades.

• Houara Dance Emote – Equal parts celebration and ancient energy.

• Aksel Traverser – Old-world royalty meets high-tech exploration.

• Xebec Hoverboard – Salvaged Mediterranean ship wood turned wave-glider.

• Afri Backpack – Inspired by fortune and adorned with gold, perfect for treasure hunters.

• Zeybek Glide + Dance – A hoverboard and emote pair drawing from Turkish Kilims and folk dance.

• Anatolitool – Quirky, watchful, good vibes all around.

• Woodaegean Locker – Built like a vault, infused with coastal spirit.

Every single item came from a mix of research, collaboration, and a whole lot of love for the cultures we were representing.

Why Representation Matters

Take the Berber Corsair skin, for example. We wanted a powerful, visually striking female character that didn’t fall into the same old "Arab knight" cliché. The Amazigh cultural legacy, especially the visual richness of women’s clothing and jewelry, became our North Star.

We worked closely across dev teams to make sure the portrayal wasn’t just “inspired by” but respectfully and thoughtfully crafted. The result? A skin that mixes traditional aesthetics with futuristic flair—and one that celebrates the strength of Amazigh women.

On top of that, we eventually worked on created a key character for the game known as Tabytha Rassa (more below).

Designing with Intention

From day one, HAWKED aimed to flip the script. Instead of noble heroes, you play as Renegades—rule-breakers in a morally grey world. The core loop is about looting, not saving kingdoms. That might sound risky on paper, but we believed in the vision.

We also knew that cultural content had to go beyond language. So we brought in North African Amazigh aesthetics, Turkish folk elements, and Arab influences to reflect the full spectrum of regional identity. It was never just about visibility—it was about authenticity.

Did we have KPIs? Sure. But honestly, what’s been most rewarding is the qualitative feedback. The fan art, the Discord shoutouts, the content creators showing off their favorite cosmetics—it’s the stuff that sticks.

Looking Back, Moving Forward: Tabytha Rassa

HAWKED’s success in the region has been overwhelming in the best way. We took creative risks—like letting go of the traditional hero arc—and got rewarded with a passionate, engaged audience.

And while we don’t have hard numbers to share just yet for our latest cultural batch, the early buzz is loud and clear: people see themselves in this world, and they want more. That’s the magic of games. When you treat culture not as a checkbox but as a living part of the world you’re building, players respond.

And so came Tabytha Rassa, a key narrative NPC character for the game. Hailing from Morocco as a former child prodigy, Tabytha started hunting for treasure in her teen years and quickly turned into a living legend among the ranks of GRAIL. A cunning warrior, resourceful treasure hunter, and master with the blade, she’s become the embodiment of what it means to be a Renegade.

Tabytha’s adventures are the stuff of legends. Her escapades have not only built her reputation but also spun off into a full-blown cultural phenomenon—with comic books and even an animated TV series, Tabytha, the Teenage Treasure Hunter, chronicling her exploits alongside her lovable raccoon sidekick. And when the fallout from Bodhi Hogan’s betrayal hit GRAIL, the top brass knew exactly who to call: Tabytha, trusted to root out leaks, expose moles, and handle traitors on Riftwake.

The creative and design team paid close attention to feedback during her design iterations. We opted for a look that truly reflects her Moroccan roots—a gorgeous blend of tradition and modern heroism. Picture this: Tabytha with radiant brown skin and dark, curly hair. We decided that the raccoon mask just didn’t fit; it was starting to echo too much of that Sly Raccoon vibe from a well-known Sony title and was already on its way out. Instead, we reimagined her headwear with a headscarf that avoids the typical keffiyeh style, drawing instead on linen, boho, desert beige, and brown tones for a more authentic feel.

We also took a hard look at how she was being presented. The original design leaned a bit too far into a sexualized aesthetic with fishnet tights and overly tight costume details in the chest and lower leg area. Inspired by modern portrayals of female Arabic and Muslim heroes—think the new Ms. Marvel from the comics (not the movie) or May Calamawy’s striking avatar in Moon Knight—we steered her look toward a more respectful yet powerful representation. To complete her signature style, we infused her design with the lavish gold accessories—bracelets, belts, and necklaces—that are such a staple in Moroccan fashion, celebrating her background of fame and glory.

Tabytha Rassa isn’t just a character; she’s a rallying cry for anyone who dares to dream big and defy expectations. With every design tweak and creative brainstorm, we aimed to honor her rich cultural heritage while forging a modern icon for the Renegade community. And if the feedback we’ve received so far is anything to go by, Tabytha’s already captured the hearts and imaginations of players around the world.