The Fractured Legacy: What’s Next for the Minds Behind Disco Elysium?

The Genesis of Division: The ZA/UM Schism

The tale of ZA/UM’s internal turmoil is as complex and dramatic as any of Disco Elysium’s in-game political machinations. What began as an Estonian cultural movement in 2005, spearheaded by visionary Robert Kurvitz, blossomed into a fully-fledged game studio that delivered its magnum opus in 2019. Awards and acclaim followed, but this success was short-lived.

By late 2021, a seismic event occurred: Kurvitz, along with lead artist Aleksander Rostov and writer Helen Hindpere—the very core of Disco Elysium’s creative engine—were ousted from ZA/UM. They publicly alleged that CEO Ilmar Kompus had acquired a controlling stake in the company through fraudulent means, effectively using ZA/UM`s own funds to seize control. What followed was a messy legal battle and a significant restructuring of the studio, leading many original team members to seek new creative homes.

The Emerging Studios: A New Constellation of RPG Aspirations

From the ashes of the ZA/UM controversy, a new landscape of game development began to take shape. Former colleagues, now dispersed, formed distinct entities, each with its own project and philosophical approach. Here’s a look at the various contenders vying for the attention of Disco Elysium fans:

ZA/UM: The Official Continuation, Reimagined

Despite the exodus of its original architects, ZA/UM, now under new management and with a bolstered team of both veterans and fresh talent, was the first to announce a tangible project. Benefiting from existing resources and a more corporate-structured development pipeline (a stark contrast to Kurvitz`s earlier, more free-form approach), Zero Parades represents the studio`s attempt to build upon Disco Elysium`s foundation.

The game introduces Herschel Wilk, a spy haunted by past failures, whose touch turns things to ash—a touch, one might ironically observe, that resonates with the studio’s own recent history. The narrative draws inspiration from espionage thrillers like Slow Horses, focusing on redemption. Visually and mechanically, it aims for direct continuity: isometric perspective, intricate skill checks, and the distinctive art style remain. A novel “pressure system” will reportedly track Herschel`s physical and psychological state, with player choices potentially incurring penalties for actions contradictory to the character`s core ideology. It`s a calculated effort to evolve the formula while retaining its essence.

Dark Math Games: Sci-Fi Noir in the Antarctic

Formed by Timo Albert, a motion designer from Disco Elysium, Dark Math Games promises a different flavor. Their project, now known as Tangerine Antarctic, takes the core detective RPG concept and plunges it into a sci-fi setting. Set in a luxurious Antarctic ski resort in 2086, players take on the role of a patrol operative investigating a crime alongside a partner.

While initially described as isometric, recent decisions have seen Tangerine Antarctic pivot to a third-person perspective, promising a more dynamic, though perhaps less intimate, experience. The developers aim for a deeply branching, non-linear detective narrative with an unusual role-playing system. Intriguingly, they also promise “much more fun” than the often melancholic and politically charged narrative of Harry Du Bois. A departure, indeed, from the emotional weight of Revachol.

Longdue: The Crowdfunded Psycho-Geographical CRPG

Longdue, founded by tech entrepreneur Riaz Moola, has gathered an impressive roster, including several key talents from Disco Elysium and other acclaimed titles. Despite some internal friction and legal complexities (notably involving Argo Tuulik, who briefly joined before a legal injunction), the studio is pushing forward with a crowdfunded isometric CRPG.

The game`s description is tantalizingly familiar yet unique: a rich, branching narrative, complex characters, and an unpredictable world set in a mining town on the brink. Players will embody a “chaotic, self-destructive, outcast journalist,” tasked with uncovering hidden truths and disrupting fragile systems. The most intriguing aspect is the promise of a “psycho-geographical CRPG,” where the environment itself reacts and changes based on player choices—a mechanic that could add another layer of depth to the reactive worldbuilding seen in its spiritual predecessor.

Summer Eternal: The Cooperative Dream in Limbo

Argo Tuulik, another writer from Disco Elysium, founded Summer Eternal with an ambitious vision for a cooperatively structured studio. The guiding principle, developed in partnership with the Institute for Economic Democracy in Slovenia, is that “every worker is a board member,” aiming for a truly horizontal economic model. However, the practicalities are still evolving, with Tuulik currently owning 100% of the registered company.

Summer Eternal`s journey has been particularly challenging, hampered by a legal injunction that prevented active development until April 1, 2025. This means their project is still in very nascent stages, with concrete details about the game itself scarce. For now, Summer Eternal represents a hopeful manifesto for a different way of game development, rather than an imminent release.

Red Info: The Original Trio`s Silent Endeavor

Perhaps the most anticipated, yet most mysterious, venture is Red Info. Founded by the very trio who gave us Disco Elysium—Robert Kurvitz, Aleksander Rostov, and Helen Hindpere—this studio represents the purest continuation of the original creative core. Backed by Chinese investor NetEase, Red Info holds the promise of the most authentic spiritual successor.

However, public information is almost non-existent. The creators have remained silent, granting no interviews or official announcements about any ongoing projects. For now, Red Info exists primarily as a beacon of hope for fans who long for the specific brand of genius that only Kurvitz, Rostov, and Hindpere could conjure. Their work, if indeed underway, is shrouded in a captivating, Elysium-esque mystery.