You might have thought only one spiritual successor to Disco Elysium, partially made by members of the original team, was announced on Friday. However, it turns out there were three in total, all aiming to build on the success of one of the best games ever.
The first one, Dark Math Games, revealed its game XXX Nightshift on Friday. Described as a “breakaway group” from the original team, the studio promises a unique companion dynamic, a deep RPG system, and multiple ways to solve a mystery at a ski resort in Antarctica set in 2086, resembling the early footage of Disco Elysium.
Dark Math Games is led by Timo Albert, formerly a motion graphic designer at ZA/UM, and three other founders, with 20 people working on the game. Whether there are other former Disco Elysium team members involved was not disclosed, but they were trained on the award-winning CRPG.
Next, Longdue, a small team including some developers who worked on the original indie hit, is crafting a game aiming to continue Disco Elysium’s legacy with a groundbreaking ‘psychogeographic RPG’ mechanic, where choices impact the world in a complex way.
Former designer Robert Kurvitz and former art director Aleksander Rostov, who left ZA/UM involuntarily in 2022, are involved with Longdue, which was confirmed by GamesIndustry.biz.
Summer Eternal, on the other hand, has openly announced their team members, including writers, artists, and even the narrator from Disco Elysium. As a co-op, their goal is to continue the work, both technically and creatively, that started with Disco Elysium.
There is no information about the game from Summer Eternal yet, but the vision resonates closely with the politics of Disco Elysium. The website features a manifesto reflecting on the state of the industry and the team’s commitment to their craft.
The journey of Disco Elysium post-success, including failed sequel plans and internal conflicts, has paved the way for these new endeavors.
