Ah, it’s one of those exciting days again in the gaming world. Disco Elysium’s studio, ZA/UM, has just revealed it’s working on something fresh—though it’s not exactly Disco Elysium 2. Meanwhile, one of the many projects inspired by Disco Elysium has unveiled its first teaser, coinciding with the news that they’ve added another former Disco developer to their team.
The studio in question, Longdue, is working on this new project that dances in the same thematic circle as its predecessor, positioning itself alongside peers like Dark Math Games and Summer Eternal. They’re gearing up to launch a Kickstarter for a psychological RPG they first introduced back in January, with the campaign officially kicking off on March 17.
Now, let’s see more details. Remember Hopetown? This is the spiritual successor where you take on the role of a journalist in a mining town. It features a unique “psychogeography system,” where the realms of emotion, memory, and conversation replace typical game mechanics like keys and levers. Essentially, these elements become your toolbox, enabling you to unlock doors, modify environments, and redefine relationships.
The latest teaser for Hopetown doesn’t give away much more than that, but we do catch a glimpse of the familiar voice of original Disco Elysium narrator, Lenval Brown. As the camera sweeps through a beautifully crafted hallway filled with people in heated debates, it eventually focuses on Hopetown’s main character. Longdue has recruited Brown to lend his voice to a pivotal character in the game, involving him deeply in the project’s development.
“It feels good to be back—to dive into something fresh,” Brown shared. “There’s nothing quite like breathing life into a world and shaping a tale that’s been waiting to be told.”
Joining the creative team are other talents from the Disco Elysium universe. Joining narrative director Grant Roberts and technical lead Piotr Sobolewski is Martin Luiga, who served as an editor on the original game.
“I am delighted to bring my experiences to Longdue, helping them weave the narrative and systems for Hopetown,” said Luiga. “Our aim is to harness the strengths of the narrative RPG genre and innovate on them to tell a compelling story built on the past, the present, and the potential future. I’m confident this team will deliver a noteworthy contribution to the Western RPG canon.”
Curious to see how Hopetown shapes up, provided it hits its Kickstarter goals and materializes into a full-fledged game? Share your thoughts with us!
