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Disco Elysium wasn`t merely a video game; it was a seismic event in interactive storytelling. This detective RPG, with its unparalleled narrative depth and atmospheric brilliance, didn`t just win awards—it redefined what a game could be. Its critical acclaim and commercial triumph heralded a new era for thoughtful, text-heavy experiences. Yet, as with many ambitious projects, triumph was soon shadowed by turmoil. A dramatic internal schism at ZA/UM, the very studio responsible for this groundbreaking title, sent ripples through the industry, scattering its visionary creators across new ventures. Now, a constellation of new studios and projects are emerging, each carrying a piece of Disco Elysium`s unique DNA, eager to forge their own paths. The prevailing question isn`t whether we`ll see another game like it, but rather, which
of these new endeavors will truly capture that elusive magic?
The Genesis of a Diaspora: The ZA/UM Split
To fully grasp the current landscape, one must first revisit the crucible from which Disco Elysium emerged: ZA/UM. Founded by the game`s spiritual father, Robert Kurvitz, alongside close collaborators like artist Aleksander Rostov and writer Helen Hindpere, ZA/UM began less as a conventional development studio and more as a cultural collective. Their painstaking work, stretching back to 2005, culminated in Disco Elysium`s 2019 release, bringing a cascade of awards and global recognition. However, this hard-won success proved fleeting.
By late 2021, Kurvitz, Rostov, and Hindpere announced their departure from ZA/UM, emphasizing that the decision was not their own. It later surfaced that investor Ilmar Kompus allegedly orchestrated a fraudulent scheme, acquiring a controlling stake in the company using ZA/UM`s own funds. This corporate maneuver effectively ousted the creative core, leading to legal battles, internal restructuring, and a significant exodus of talent. What followed was a creative diaspora, as former ZA/UM members formed new studios, each now a distinct satellite orbiting the memory of their shared triumph.
ZA/UM`s Next Chapter: “Zero Parades” Takes Center Stage
Despite the internal upheavals, ZA/UM itself continued, now under new management and with a decidedly more structured, business-oriented approach. This transformation has seemingly allowed them to be the first among the fractured groups to reveal a substantial new project: Zero Parades. Under the leadership of figures like executive producer Tõnis Haavel and, more recently, president Edward Tomaszewski, the studio has pursued a path of corporate efficiency.
What do we know about this new endeavor? The protagonist is a female spy named Herschel Wilk, whose touch inexplicably turns objects to ash. Haunted by a past failure that decimated her team five years prior, she receives a mysterious assignment—a chance at redemption. The setup evokes the espionage intrigue of shows like Slow Horses, where disgraced agents seek to reclaim their honor.
Stylistically and technically, Zero Parades appears to stay remarkably close to Disco Elysium’s blueprint: isometric perspective, skill-check mechanics, and a distinctive art style. Developers highlight a unique “pressure system” that will impact the protagonist`s physical and psychological state, and a rumored penalty system for player choices that contradict the character’s core ideology. It seems ZA/UM`s remaining team, including talents like writer Justin Keenan and animator Eduardo Rubio, aims to evolve the established formula.
- Key Personnel: Justin Keenan (writer, narrative designer), Kaspar “Kasparov” Tamsalu (art lead), Tõnis Haavel (producer), Eduardo Rubio (animator), Anton Vill (art director), Siim “Kosmos” Sinamäe (episodic author).
- Anticipated Release: 2026
Dark Math Games: “Tangerine Antarctic” Explores a New Setting
Another former ZA/UM talent, motion designer Timo Albert, co-founded Dark Math Games. This smaller studio, with approximately 20 developers (half of whom are ex-ZA/UM personnel, including executive producer Kaur Kender), is working on Tangerine Antarctic. Set in 2086 at an Antarctic ski resort, the game casts players as a patrol operative investigating a crime alongside a partner. The official description playfully suggests players can uncover gruesome murders, break sacred hearts, or just kill time
during their polar nights.
Initially, Tangerine Antarctic bore a strong visual resemblance to Disco Elysium, albeit with a sci-fi twist. However, a recent decision saw the game shift from an isometric perspective to a third-person RPG. While maintaining promises of a richly non-linear detective plot and a unique role-playing system, the developers also aim for a lighter, more “fun” tone compared to the often-depressive narrative of Harry Du Bois.
- Key Personnel: Timo Albert (graphics, art lead), Kaur Kender (executive producer, former ZA/UM investor).
- Anticipated Release: Not yet announced.
Longdue`s Ambitious Vision: A “Psychogeographical CRPG”
The creation of Longdue is particularly interesting, spearheaded by Riaz Moola, recognized by Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 for his work in technology. His initial ventures in bootcamps attracted former Disco Elysium talents like Argo Tuulik (though his involvement with Longdue was tumultuous and brief due to a legal dispute) and Dora Klinjic. Longdue has assembled an impressive roster, including Martin Luiga (writer, character creator), Piotr Sobolewski (gameplay mechanics), Pavel Blaszczak (composer for The Witcher 3), Lanval Brown (the voice of Martin in Disco Elysium), and Ben Babbitt (co-writer of Kentucky Route Zero). Funding has been secured through successful crowdfunding campaigns on Kickstarter and IndieGoGo.
Longdue promises an isometric CRPG with a deep, branching narrative, complex characters, and an unpredictable world. Players will inhabit the role of an outcast journalist—a chaotic, self-destructive provocateur—unearthing hidden truths in a mining town teetering on the brink of collapse and rebirth. The game’s standout feature is its self-proclaimed “psychogeographical CRPG” mechanics, where the environment itself is said to alter in response to player choices, a truly intriguing concept for those who appreciate reactive worlds.
- Key Personnel: Riaz Moola (founder), Martin Luiga (writer, character creator), Piotr Sobolewski (gameplay mechanics), Pavel Blaszczak (composer, The Witcher 3), Lanval Brown (voice actor), Ben Babbitt (co-writer, Kentucky Route Zero).
- Anticipated Release: 2028
Summer Eternal: A Cooperative Dream on Hold
Former Disco Elysium writer Argo Tuulik announced his own studio, Summer Eternal, confirming work on another RPG. However, Summer Eternal currently appears to be more of a manifesto for a new way of working than an active game development powerhouse. Tuulik envisions a cooperative structure where every worker is a board member
, partnering with the Institute for Economic Democracy in Slovenia. This horizontal economic model is, for now, largely an aspiration. Summer Eternal Ltd, registered in London, is wholly owned and directed by Tuulik.
Compounding this nascent status, Tuulik was under a legal injunction until April 1, 2025 (a consequence of his conflict with Longdue), severely restricting his development activities. While the ban has now lifted, active development is only just beginning, making any immediate release expectations unrealistic. Nonetheless, the promise of a truly worker-owned studio, especially one helmed by a key creative mind from Disco Elysium, offers a fascinating glimpse into alternative development models.
- Key Personnel: Argo Tuulik (founder, writer), Dora Klinjic (writer), Olga Moskvina (writer), Anastasia Ivanova (former senior concept artist at ZA/UM), Michael Oswell (former graphic designer at ZA/UM).
- Anticipated Release: Not yet announced (impacted by legal ban until April 2025).
Red Info: The Enigma of the Original Architects
Perhaps the most poignant and anticipated, yet least known, of these ventures is Red Info. Founded in March 2025 by Robert Kurvitz, Aleksander Rostov, and Helen Hindpere—the core creative trio famously ousted from ZA/UM—this studio represents the most authentic collection of Disco Elysium’s original visionaries. They are backed by NetEase, a major Chinese investor.
Given the legal complexities surrounding intellectual property after the ZA/UM scandal, Kurvitz and his colleagues were left with little choice but to pursue entirely new projects. Officially, very little is known about Red Info’s development activities. Information remains largely confined to rumors, as none of the studio`s principals have given interviews or made formal announcements. For now, the future work of Disco Elysium’s primary architects remains shrouded in tantalizing mystery.
- Key Personnel: Robert Kurvitz (author), Aleksander Rostov (artist, art director), Helen Hindpere (key author).
- Anticipated Release: Not yet announced (project status unknown).
The Road Ahead: A Fragmented Future for Narrative RPGs
The saga of Disco Elysium`s creators is a compelling narrative in itself, a testament to artistic passion clashing with corporate realities. From the original ZA/UM, now a more streamlined entity focusing on Zero Parades, to the various independent studios—Dark Math Games embracing sci-fi with Tangerine Antarctic, Longdue aiming for groundbreaking psychogeography, Summer Eternal championing cooperative development, and Red Info holding the enigmatic torch of the original visionaries—the future of narrative RPGs looks remarkably diverse.
Each of these ventures carries the torch of Disco Elysium’s legacy, albeit in different directions and with varying philosophies. Whether any will manage to recapture the lightning-in-a-bottle brilliance of their shared past remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that the creative reverberations of Disco Elysium will continue to shape the gaming landscape for years to come, offering players a rich tapestry of intellectual and emotional experiences. The stage is set, the characters are established, and the plots are beginning to unfold. Now, we wait to see which of these new worlds will truly captivate the imagination.
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Wesley Dunham