Disco Elysium wasn`t just a game; it was a phenomenon, a literary and philosophical powerhouse that redefined what an RPG could be. Its intricate world, compelling narrative, and unique skill system left an indelible mark on players and developers alike. Given its monumental impact, the idea of it remaining a singular masterpiece seemed almost impossible. Indeed, a wave of information has been slowly surfacing regarding various spiritual and stylistic successors to this groundbreaking RPG. But with a fractured legacy comes multiple contenders. Let`s piece together the fragments and explore what`s truly on the horizon for fans seeking that unique Disco Elysium magic.
The Genesis of Discord: ZA/UM`s Tumultuous Transformation
To understand the diverse array of studios now announcing projects “from the creators of Disco Elysium,” one must first revisit the pivotal events that led to this proliferation. The story begins with ZA/UM, an Estonian collective spearheaded by the game`s visionary, Robert Kurvitz, and his closest compatriots. From 2005, this core group painstakingly crafted the game that would eventually grace our screens. In 2016, Kurvitz`s team secured its initial funding, transforming into an independent studio with a London office. By 2019, Disco Elysium was released to critical acclaim, showering its creators with awards, financial success, and global recognition.
However, the euphoria of a realized magnum opus was short-lived. Towards the end of 2021, key creative figures—Kurvitz, artist and art director Aleksander Rostov, and writer Helen Hindpere—abruptly departed ZA/UM, emphasizing that the decision was not their own. Subsequent revelations exposed an alleged fraudulent scheme by CEO and investor Ilmar Kompus, who supposedly acquired a controlling stake in the studio using its own funds, effectively seizing control. Kurvitz and his colleagues found themselves unceremoniously dismissed. This corporate upheaval led to protracted legal battles and a significant internal restructuring within ZA/UM, as many original team members chose not to remain under the new leadership.
The aftermath saw former ZA/UM employees establish several new studios, each now striving to rekindle the spark that defined Disco Elysium. This diaspora gave birth to Longdue, Dark Math Games, Summer Eternal, Red Info, and, of course, the re-shaped ZA/UM itself.
ZA/UM: Zero Parades – The Studio`s New Era
Perhaps unsurprisingly, ZA/UM was the first to unveil a tangible project, seemingly closest to release. This head start can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, the studio retained significantly more resources than its newly formed competitors. Tõnis Haavel, Disco Elysium`s executive producer, remained with ZA/UM, and the financial maneuverings with Ilmar Kompus ensured that a controlling stake and a portion of the intellectual property stayed within the company. This stability allowed ZA/UM to retain talent like Eduardo Rubio (animator) and Justin Keenan (writer and narrative designer) and recruit new staff to fill crucial roles. Secondly, under the leadership of Edward Tomaszewski (ZA/UM`s president since November 2022), the studio shifted from the more experimental, culture-driven approach of Kurvitz`s original collective to a more structured, results-oriented production model—less artistic indulgence, perhaps, but certainly more streamlined.
Zero Parades: A Glimpse into the Future
- Key Team Members: Justin Keenan (writer/narrative designer), Kaspar “Kasparov” Tamsalu (art lead), Tõnis Haavel (producer), Eduardo Rubio (animator), Anton Vill (art director), Siim “Cosmos” Sinamäe (episodic writer).
- Estimated Release: 2026
Details about Zero Parades, while not exhaustive, are sufficient to form an initial impression. The protagonist is now a female spy named Herschel Wilk, whose touch inexplicably turns objects to ash. Haunted by a past failure five years prior, Herschel receives a mysterious assignment—her chance at redemption. The plot draws inspiration from spy thrillers, reminiscent of narratives where disgraced intelligence agents seek to clear their names.
Trailers indicate that Zero Parades will be stylistically and technically faithful to Disco Elysium, retaining the isometric perspective, skill-check mechanics, and distinctive art direction. Developers highlight a unique “pressure system” that influences the protagonist`s physical and psychological state. Player choices are promised to directly impact skill acquisition, with rumors suggesting penalties for actions that contradict the character`s core ideology. Choices will have both positive and negative ramifications, forcing players to strategically manage skill development and suppression to gain specific bonuses.
Dark Math Games: Tangerine Antarctic – A Sci-Fi Noir Pivot
Dark Math Games is a smaller studio, co-founded by Timo Albert, a motion designer who worked on Disco Elysium, and Kaur Kender (though he formally stepped down, leaving his brother Heiti Kender in charge). The team comprises around 20 developers, with roughly half hailing from the original ZA/UM crew.
Tangerine Antarctic: An Icy Investigation
- Key Team Members: Timo Albert (graphics, art lead), Kaur Kender (executive producer/investor, though now less hands-on).
- Estimated Release: Not announced
The game is set in 2086 at an Antarctic ski resort, where players take on the role of a patrol operative investigating a crime alongside a partner. The official description playfully teases: “It`s up to you how you spend your polar nights: uncovering horrific murders, breaking sacred hearts, or simply killing time.”
Initially, the title evoked Disco Elysium in a sci-fi setting. However, the game has undergone a significant transformation, changing its name to Tangerine Antarctic (after the hotel where the main action unfolds) and shifting from Disco Elysium`s isometric perspective to a third-person RPG camera. Despite this visual departure, the developers maintain their commitment to a complex, non-linear detective narrative and an innovative role-playing system. Crucially, they promise “much more fun” than the often-melancholic tale of Harry Du Bois—a bold claim, given the original`s celebrated existential dread.
Longdue: A Psychogeographical CRPG in the Making
Longdue’s foundation is particularly noteworthy due to its founder, Riaz Moola, current chairman of Longdue’s board and representative of its investors. A Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 laureate in technology, Moola originally founded tech bootcamps CoGrammar and HyperionDev, attracting talent like Argo Tuulik and Dora Kljindžić, known for their work on Disco Elysium. This collaboration was short-lived for Tuulik, however, who left under contentious circumstances, leading to a court-issued development ban against him (and his studio, Summer Eternal) until April 1, 2025. Other former ZA/UM luminaries listed on Longdue’s official site include Martin Luiga (writer, character creator) and Piotr Sobolewski (gameplay mechanics). The team is further bolstered by industry veterans like Paweł Błaszczak (composer for The Witcher 3), Lenval Brown (the voice of Martin from Disco Elysium), and Ben Babbitt from Kentucky Route Zero as a co-writer. The project has successfully gathered funds through Kickstarter and IndieGoGo crowdfunding campaigns.
Longdue`s Unnamed CRPG: The Journalist`s Tale
- Key Team Members: Riaz Moola (founder), Martin Luiga (writer, character creator), Piotr Sobolewski (gameplay mechanics), Paweł Błaszczak (composer), Lenval Brown (voice actor), Ben Babbitt (co-writer).
- Estimated Release: 2028
So, what kind of game can we expect? Longdue`s official description paints a vivid picture: “An isometric CRPG with a rich story, deep, branching dialogues, well-developed characters, and an unpredictable world. […] The game takes place in a mining town teetering on the brink of collapse and rebirth. You play as an outcast journalist – a chaotic, self-destructive provocateur who uncovers hidden truths, exposes fragile systems, and shatters the world…”
They promise something they`re calling a “psychogeographical CRPG,” with the core innovation being an environment capable of changing and reacting based on player choices—a truly intriguing proposition for dynamic storytelling.
Summer Eternal: A Cooperative Dream on Hold
Argo Tuulik, another former Disco Elysium writer, announced his own studio, Summer Eternal, confirming work on an RPG. However, Summer Eternal is currently less a game development company and more a collective of individuals disillusioned with the traditional studio model. Its cooperative structure is being developed in partnership with Slovenia`s Institute for Economic Democracy, advocating for a principle where “every worker is a member of the board of directors”—a horizontal economic structure designed for shared ownership and decision-making. Yet, this vision largely remains a manifesto; Summer Eternal Ltd, registered in London, is currently wholly owned and directed by Argo Tuulik, a delightful paradox reflecting the complexities of founding a truly cooperative venture.
Summer Eternal`s Ambiguous Future
- Key Team Members: Argo Tuulik (founder), Dora Kljindžić (writer), Olga Moskvina (writer), Anastasia Ivanova (former senior concept artist at ZA/UM), Michael Oswell (former graphic designer at ZA/UM).
- Estimated Release: Undetermined
Given Tuulik`s legal entanglement and the development ban that prevented him from active work until April 1, 2025 (the aforementioned conflict with Longdue), Summer Eternal has only recently begun its active operations. Therefore, while news may start flowing, a release date is still very much in the distant future.
Red Info: The Original Visionaries` Silent Return
In March 2025, news broke that Robert Kurvitz, alongside Helen Hindpere and Aleksander Rostov, had founded a new studio: Red Info. Considering Kurvitz`s situation after the ZA/UM scandal (where intellectual property rights allegedly shifted with the controlling stake), his path forward necessitated both continued legal action and the development of an entirely new project. Red Info currently represents the most “authentic” reunion of Disco Elysium`s core creative minds. This celebrated trio now shares ownership with NetEase, a major Chinese investor.
Red Info: A Veil of Secrecy
- Key Team Members: Robert Kurvitz (author), Aleksander Rostov (artist), Helen Hindpere (key writer).
- Estimated Release: Undetermined
Officially, there is no public confirmation of Red Info actively developing a game. Information circulating currently is purely speculative, as none of the studio`s figures have given interviews or made formal announcements. For now, the architects of Revachol`s grimy, beautiful world are working in silence, leaving fans to eagerly anticipate their next, potentially true, spiritual successor.
The landscape forged by Disco Elysium is now a mosaic of independent ambitions and corporate restructuring. From the continuation of ZA/UM with its spy thriller Zero Parades to Dark Math Games` sci-fi twist in Tangerine Antarctic, Longdue`s journalistic CRPG, Summer Eternal`s cooperative aspirations, and Red Info`s enigmatic formation by the original dream team – each project carries a piece of the original magic. Whether any of these successors can truly capture the nuanced brilliance and groundbreaking innovation of Disco Elysium remains to be seen. But for fans yearning for another journey into richly written worlds and complex moral quandaries, the future, though fractured, is certainly brimming with intriguing possibilities.
Jasper Hawthorne 
Rupert Fairfax