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

Growing up in Quebec, Isael Huard didn’t think he would choose video games as a career.

After moving out west and studying music at the University of Alberta, he got a certificate in video game design and met two others.

The trio formed Caldera Interactive, an Edmonton-based game studio. In 2023, a vision for their first game came into form.

Huard and his team travelled to game conferences and pitched the game to other developers. Placing first at a show in 2024 gave them some new momentum.

“It provided us with notoriety and validated our studio that we have a game that people want to talk about, play,” said Huard.

Now, a year and a half after getting the idea, a trailer was finally released last week for The Rabbit Haul.

“It’s a tower defense and farming simulator. You play as a cute bunny, during the day you’re farming for crops and for your defenses. Because, at night raccoons are trying to steal essentially your crops. You get to upgrade and get better at defending, grow more powerful, face more powerful as time goes on,” explained Huard.

It’s the latest success story in Canada’s games industry. The Entertainment Software Association of Canada estimates there are over 80 game studios in Alberta, employing over 800 people.

But it’s an industry that still has ups and downs. Bioware’s Edmonton studio, owned by Electronic Arts, had multiple layoffs shortly after releasing its latest major game last fall.

While Huard is not aiming to become the next EA or Bioware, he does hope players have fun with his team’s debut game, just as it’s designed to do.

“It was out of a need to build a game that we want to play. That was our approach for this game, and it’s paying off.”

The Rabbit Haul is expected to be released on PC, and the Nintendo Switch in 2026.