A group of developers who were initially tapped to work on the canceled sequel to Disco Elysium have announced the formation of a new development studio–Longdue Games–and a new game, which the studio describes as being “set in a game world conceived by the leads of the now-canceled Disco Elysium sequel.”
Longdue Games consists of about a dozen developers, many of whom either worked on Disco Elysium or were previously slated to work on its sequel before it was canceled. A number of legal disagreements between the game’s development studio/publisher ZA/UM and Disco Elysium game director Robert Kurvitz and art director Aleksander Rostov ultimately led to the sequel’s cancellation, and although Longdue Games does describe its upcoming title as a “spiritual successor” to the original game, Kurvitz, Rostov, and ZA/UM have nothing to do with the project.
“Longdue’s debut project is developed with key creatives from the original Disco Elysium team and contributors to the unreleased sequel, carrying forward the thoughtful, narrative-first approach that defined its predecessor,” Longdue said in a press release announcing both the studio’s formation and the game itself. “The game explores the intricate relationship between mind and environment, offering players a story-driven experience where their choices shape both the world and its characters.”
Like Disco Elysium, Longdue’s currently unnamed project is an RPG that focuses on psychological depth and player choices, with the game’s developers striving to honor Disco Elysium’s legacy. It’s no coincidence that Longdue chose to announce the game and the formation of the new studio on the fifth anniversary of Disco Elysium’s original release.
“Announced on the fifth anniversary of Disco Elysium, Longdue’s first project honors the cRPG canon while establishing itself as a steady and dependable voice in the future of isometric RPG design,” Longdue said in the press release.
Described as “a psychogeographic RPG with narrative depth,” Longdue’s upcoming title will explore “the delicate interplay between the conscious and subconscious, the seen and unseen,” and challenges places with difficult choices that will “ripple between the character’s psyche and environment,” forcing players to find their way through “a constantly shifting landscape shaped by both internal and external forces.”
Longdue says the “psychogeographic RPG mechanic” featured in the game results in every decision having an effect on both the in-game world, and the characters who live within it.
“In this experience, the lines between the mind and the environment blur, colliding and transforming with each choice, leading players through an ever-evolving narrative landscape.”
Little else is currently known about the upcoming RPG, as its developer has yet to even reveal the game’s title, but updates are likely to be posted to Longdue Games’ official website as development progresses.