Xalavier Nelson Jr.

Xalavier Nelson Jr. (born 1997 or 1998) is an American video game developer and writer. He is founder of the indie game studio Strange Scaffold, which is known for video games such as El Paso, Elsewhere (2023), for which the studio received a D.I.C.E. Award.

Nelson has commented on working conditions in the video game industry, including practices such as crunch. He was inspired to create games with a focus on shorter playtime lengths and ethical production cycles, citing his frustration with burnout and perceived unhealthy industry practices. He previously wrote for the gaming news outlet PC Gamer, which he joined in 2017.