Every Disco Elysium Successor Studio Explained (2024)

Disco Elysium made its name known throughout the indie game scene for a number of reasons. Chief among them, the game is known for its extensive dialogue and strong thematic ideas. Unfortunately, the team that developed Disco Elysium apparently began to fracture not long after the release of the game.

✕ Remove Ads

However, this was apparently not the final note in its story. The original studio behind Disco Elysium is referred to as ZA/UM, and a new studio has come out of the woodwork claiming itself to be the true successor to ZA/UM's original vision. However, it happens to be joining the scene with plenty of competition.

Related

Former Disco Elysium Devs Co-Found 2 New Studios

Former Disco Elysium devs will open two brand-new studios, with one currently hard at work on a spiritual successor to the popular RPG.

Disco Elysium Developers Have Split Into Four Opposing Successor Studios

ZA/UM Crafted a Unique Indie Masterpiece with Disco Elysium

With this team joining the fray, there are officially four separate studios claiming to uphold ZA/UM's values. Moreover, it would seem that they are each planning their own version of a successor or sequel to Disco Elysium. No matter who is behind any given team, it should first be noted that recapturing what made Disco Elysium work could very well be a near-impossible task.

✕ Remove Ads

Playing through Disco Elysium's story is often compared to reading a book, and this is by no means an insult. After all, the dialogue is consistently witty, and the characters are very unlikely to leave players feeling bored. It's no wonder that some fans would have hopes for a follow-up, but the recent split has put the game's legacy in a tricky situation.

The Newest Studios Battling to Create a Spiritual Successor to Disco Elysium

The newest studio made up of former ZA/UM employees is called Dark Math Games. The company announced its formation alongside a project called XXX Nightshift, which certainly seems intent on recapturing the film noir style embodied by Disco Elysium. It was not the first studio to move in this direction, and funnily enough, it wasn't even the first on the day of its reveal.

Dark Math Games apparently attempted to steal the thunder of Longdue, another studio that had launched itself just hours earlier. Longdue is also made up of former ZA/UM employees, and it also happened to have claimed ownership over Disco Elysium's legacy. Longdue seems to have a marginally smaller team than Dark Math Games, but both new studios have even bigger fish to fry.

The Dispute Over Disco Elysium is an Ironic Chapter in its Legacy

Both of these newest successors were predated by Red Info, the first studio to offshoot from ZA/UM. Moreover, it's important to note that ZA/UM itself is still intact to a certain degree. ZA/UM has been somewhat embroiled in controversy, which has prevented it from being the loudest voice in this conversation. Likewise, there has been an ongoing dispute between ZA/UM and Red Info over who currently holds the legal rights over Disco Elysium as intellectual property.

✕ Remove Ads

Disco Elysium passionately expresses Leftist politics, with ZA/UM officially considering itself a Communist studio. This makes the current dispute that much more ironic, as Leftist infighting is a common in-joke of these communities. In fact, Disco Elysium often makes commentary about Communist movements destroying themselves over petty disputes and purity testing. With that historical observation being so key to its themes, it turns the current situation into an ironic microcosm of what Disco Elysium was trying to say.

Dark Math Games' recent announcement makes it the fourth studio to lay claim to Disco Elysium, and it's impossible to say if it will be the last. Dark Math Games joins two other successor studios, and even the developers that remain at ZA/UM itself. This dispute has been a point of comedy for much of the game's fan base, but it could eventually create troubling implications for the game's legacy.

Every Disco Elysium Successor Studio Explained (3)
Every Disco Elysium Successor Studio Explained (4)
Every Disco Elysium Successor Studio Explained (5)
Every Disco Elysium Successor Studio Explained (6)
Every Disco Elysium Successor Studio Explained (7)
Every Disco Elysium Successor Studio Explained (8)
Disco Elysium

Disco Elysium - The Final Cut is the definitive edition of the groundbreaking role playing game.You’re a detective with a unique skill system at your disposal and a whole city block to carve your path across. Interrogate unforgettable characters, crack murders, or take bribes. Become a hero or an absolute disaster of a human being.

Full voice acting.All of the city's beautiful people are brought to life with full English voiceover. Play characters against each other, try to help them, or fall hopelessly in love as each word is spoken to you with the appropriate accent and emotion.

New political vision quests.Face the reality of your worldview as your political compass leads you down new paths. Discover more citizens, a whole extra area, and monumental sights as you leave an even bigger mark on the world by chasing your dreams.

Unprecedented freedom of choice​.Intimidate, sweet-talk, resort to violence, write poetry, sing karaoke, dance like a beast, or solve the meaning of life. Disco Elysium - The Final Cut is the most faithful representation of desktop role playing ever attempted in video games.

Countless tools for role playing.​ Mix and match from 24 wildly different skills. Develop a personal style with over 80 clothing items. Wield 14 tools from guns to flashlights to a boombox, or pour yourself a cocktail of 6 different psychoactive substances. Develop your character even further with 60 wild ​thoughts ​to think – with the detective's Thought Cabinet.

A revolutionary dialogue system with unforgettable characters.​The world is alive with real people, not extras. Ask probing questions, make insightful observations, or express your wildest desires as you play cop or something completely different. Disco Elysium's revolutionary dialogue system lets you do almost anything.

Carve your unique path across the city​.Explore, manipulate, collect tare, or become a millionaire in an open world unlike anything you've seen before. The city of Revachol is yours for the taking, one small piece at a time. From the streets to the beaches – and beyond.

Hard boiled, hard core.​Death, sex, taxes, and disco – nothing is off the table. Revachol is a real place with real challenges. Solve a massive murder investigation, or relax and kick back with sprawling side-cases. The detective decides, the citizens abide.

RPG

Systems

Every Disco Elysium Successor Studio Explained (13) OpenCritic Reviews
Top Critic Rating:92/100 Critics Recommend:96%
Platform(s)
PC , PS5 , PS4 , Xbox One , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , Stadia

Released
October 15, 2019

Developer(s)
ZA/UM

Publisher(s)
ZA/UM

Engine
Unity

ESRB
M For Mature 17+ due to Blood, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs, Violence

How Long To Beat
23 Hours

PS Plus Availability
Extra & Premium

OpenCritic Rating
Mighty
Every Disco Elysium Successor Studio Explained (2024)

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Corie Satterfield

Last Updated:

Views: 5802

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (42 voted)

Reviews: 89% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Corie Satterfield

Birthday: 1992-08-19

Address: 850 Benjamin Bridge, Dickinsonchester, CO 68572-0542

Phone: +26813599986666

Job: Sales Manager

Hobby: Table tennis, Soapmaking, Flower arranging, amateur radio, Rock climbing, scrapbook, Horseback riding

Introduction: My name is Corie Satterfield, I am a fancy, perfect, spotless, quaint, fantastic, funny, lucky person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.