In a growing example of Trinidad & Tobago–born creative projects finding structured pathways to global markets, Bustr and Accent Games Studio have entered into a strategic collaboration centered on Riddim Rabbit, an original steelpan rhythm game developed locally and positioned for both regional & international audiences.
The partnership reflects a shared commitment to long-term development, cultural authenticity, and market-led execution. At its core, Riddim Rabbit represents a contemporary reimagining of Trinidad & Tobago’s national instrument within interactive media—merging heritage with modern design, technology, and audience engagement.
Developed by Accent Games Studio, Riddim Rabbit is the first steelpan rhythm game of its kind. The project combines rhythm-based gameplay with a distinctive visual identity, featuring chibi—Japanese-inspired “cute” character design—expressed through stylized rabbit characters. This approach creates an accessible, globally recognizable aesthetic while maintaining strong cultural roots.
Partnership Framework
Bustr broke the announcement, right as negotiations were resolved, last month to their discord server community – where all news & updates on the company arrive first, stating the partnership’s structure specific to the Riddim Rabbit intellectual property. The announcement detailed that under a limited, extendable agreement Bustr reserves an exclusive license to Riddim Rabbit’s mobile version in which the growing content hub will oversee the development and management of the mobile version of the game, in addition to leading its marketing, distribution strategy, and brand positioning.
Accent Games Studio and Bustr will jointly leverage their respective expertise—game development and interactive design on one side, and creative strategy, marketing, and market-entry execution on the other—to guide Riddim Rabbit toward official release and sustained growth.
Beta versions of the game are scheduled for release during Easter and JAVA (Summer), allowing audiences to engage with the project ahead of its full launch.
Origins at Bustrmrkt 2025
A look back at Riddim Rabbit before the studios crossed paths shows the value of this new venture between the Trinidadian studios. This partnership originated through Accent Games Studio’s participation in Bustr’s 2025 Bustrmrkt initiative, a nationwide creative marketing campaign designed to introduce emerging projects to public audiences across malls, schools, conventions, events, and theatres – where the project saw great evolution.
Riddim Rabbit was first showcased to the public during Bustrmrkt, where direct audience engagement generated critical feedback. Insights gathered throughout the campaign informed substantial development improvements across gameplay, presentation, and overall experience.
By the conclusion of the campaign, Riddim Rabbit had emerged as a star project. Following this momentum, Bustr’s producers sought to enterformal negotiations with Accent Games Studio, ultimately extending its endorsement and committing long-term strategic support to the project.
“To think we’ve been to so many places – [Bustr is] one of our biggest collaborations of the year – we showcased Riddim Rabbit to hundreds of attendees [at Bustrmrkt] – Accent Studios’ CEO Jordan Smith.
“I’m so impressed with what they’ve [Accent Studios] created and the response people have had to it. Bustr exists for this exact reason. Bustrmrkt was extraordinary. As long as our [local] creators continue to create and collaborate, with our support, we are closer to cracking the code for entertainment media in T&T.”
Development Progress and Forward Strategy
Within the first few weeks of collaboration, the partnership has already produced a strong portfolio of deliverables, laying the groundwork for both regional and international expansion.
Bustr In Japan
A key component of the project’s forward strategy is the planned introduction of Riddim Rabbit to Japan, alongside Bustr Original Mindshaya (project page), during Japan’s annual SOCA IN JAPAN festival.
This initiative is supported by market analysis conducted and led by Bustr, identifying strong alignment between Japanese audience preferences and the project’s rhythm-based gameplay, chibi-inspired character design, and cultural novelty. Based on these findings, the project is expected to resonate positively with Japanese audiences.
The strategic decision to pursue this market reflects Bustr’s role in providing marketing leadership and international growth planning, ensuring that Riddim Rabbit is positioned competitively while maintaining its cultural integrity.
Cultural Significance
Riddim Rabbit represents a modern reinterpretation of Trinidad & Tobago’s national instrument through interactive media. The collaboration between Bustr and Accent Games Studio underscores the potential of locally developed intellectual property when supported by structured strategy, audience-driven development, and global ambition.
As development progresses toward beta and official releases, Riddim Rabbit stands as a culturally grounded yet internationally positioned project—showcasing the creative capacity of Trinidad & Tobago on the world stage.
Further Reading
As Bustr and Accent Games Studio prepare to engage the Japanese market, the cultural connection is already present. Read about existing Trinbagonian culture and communities in Japan here: Japan’s Caribbean (Series)
Learn more about Accent Games Studio: https://www.accentgamestudios.com/
Learn more about Bustr: https://bustrmedia.com/
