3 Edmonton video game developers unveil first project: The Rabbit Haul

Caldera Interactive’s unveiling of The Rabbit Haul marks the first commercial project from a new Edmonton independent studio. Founders Isael Huard, Mickael Zerihoun and Titus Lo met through the University of Alberta’s game-development certificate program before forming the company, providing a direct example of local game-development education leading to the creation of an Alberta studio. The Rabbit Haul combines farming simulation and tower defence gameplay and is planned for PC and Nintendo Switch. The project had already gained industry exposure through conference appearances and a first-place pitch competition result in 2024 before its trailer was publicly unveiled. Caldera’s progression from University of Alberta students to a studio developing original intellectual property demonstrates how Edmonton’s education and independent-development ecosystem can produce new companies even as larger local employers experience layoffs and restructuring.