First Slice of the Disco Elysium Successor Cake: Zero Parades Lands May 21st – And There's More Where That Came From!
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
The first of many *Disco Elysium* spiritual successors, *Zero Parades: For Dead Spies*, is finally landing on PC on May 21st, promising a grand spy RPG with familiar vibes and a much faster localization pace this time 'round – a true testament to the original game's chaotic, brilliant legacy, which has also spawned a host of other exciting projects from former ZA/UM talent.
Right, so you know that feeling when you've been waiting for ages for a spell to brew, and then suddenly, *poof*, it's done and ready to blow a hole through your reality? That's kinda what just happened with *Zero Parades: For Dead Spies*. This much-anticipated espionage RPG, brewed in the same alchemical vat as the legendary *Disco Elysium* (well, some of the same alchemists, anyway), just dropped its release date like a mic after a particularly potent incantation. And fair dinkum, it’s closer than you might think.
For those of us who spent countless hours getting lost in the unique, thought-provoking, and frankly, utterly bizarre world of *Disco Elysium*, the news that *Zero Parades* is landing on PC on **May 21st** is a pretty big deal. This isn't just any old RPG, mate. We’re talking about a ‘grand spy RPG’ that’s got the fingerprints of some of the original ZA/UM crew all over it. You’ll be stepping into the rather stylish, probably slightly crumpled, shoes of one Hershel Wilk, alias CASCADE. He’s described as ‘brilliant, burnt-out, possibly cursed’ – which, let's be honest, sounds like half the player base on a Monday morning after a long weekend of gaming. Five years after a mission that went spectacularly pear-shaped, leading his team ‘into the abyss,’ Wilk's getting a shot at redemption with a mysterious new assignment. What could possibly go wrong, eh?
Expect all the good stuff: operant skills that probably make you question your own sanity, dramatic encounters that'll have you on the edge of your seat (or your spell-casting circle), and inner voices that are about as reliable as a mischievous imp offering directions. And for those of us who like our espionage with a side of portability, ZA/UM has confirmed that *Zero Parades* will be Steam Deck Verified right out of the gate. So you can ‘fight transnational capital on the go’ – a phrase that sounds suspiciously like something a wizard would say while casting a financial hex. If Steam isn't your bag, no worries; it'll also be hitting GOG and the Epic Games Store, with a PS5 version brewing for a later date.
Now, let's talk languages. The original *Disco Elysium* took a staggering *five years* to get its full slate of localisations out. Five years! That's enough time to learn a new language, build a small cottage, and maybe even discover a lost ancient artifact. ZA/UM studio head Allen Murray rightly pointed out that players 'deserved better than that,' and they're apparently making good on it this time around. *Zero Parades* is launching with five languages on day one (English voice-over, but text for English, German, Russian, Simplified Chinese, and Spanish – Latin America). They're promising a 'faster cadence' for the rest, with additional support rolling out through late 2026 and 2027. It's cautiously optimistic news, right? While it's great they're making an effort, part of me wonders why it still takes so long to get a game into more hands on day one in this hyper-connected age. Still, a step in the right direction, I reckon.
But here’s where the plot thickens, mate, and where a bit of that gentle skepticism about corporate pronouncements comes in handy. You see, while *Zero Parades* is indeed from *some* of the developers behind *Disco Elysium*, it's crucial to remember that the original ZA/UM team, the one that conjured that masterpiece, isn't exactly a single, unified entity anymore. There was, to put it mildly, a bit of a catastrophic magical explosion – a 'public, vicious fallout,' as the muggles call it, complete with legal battles and layoffs that scattered the original talent like spell components in a strong gust of wind. This isn't just a simple case of a studio making a new game; it's a testament to the sheer creative force that was *Disco Elysium*.
What this means for us, the eager players, is a bit of a 'choose your own adventure' situation when it comes to *Disco Elysium* spiritual successors. While ZA/UM is first to the finish line with *Zero Parades*, they're not the only wizards in the lab. Several other studios have sprung up from the ashes, each with their own talented former ZA/UM devs working on new projects that aim to capture that unique lightning in a bottle.
First up, we've got **Red Info**, featuring none other than Robert Kurvitz and Aleksander Rostov, two of the original heavy-hitters, alongside developer Longdue (who, apparently, were working on a cancelled *Disco Elysium* sequel – talk about drama!). They're cooking up a 'psychogeographic RPG,' which frankly, sounds like it'll warp your brain in the best possible way.
Then there's **Dark Math Games**, where OG *Disco* devs Timo Albert and Kaur Kender are crafting a third-person RPG called *Tangerine Antarctic*. Personally, I'm still mourning the loss of its former, gloriously edgy title: *XXX Nightshift*. Bloody hell, that name had character!
And finally, the magically named **Summer Eternal**, founded by Argo Tuulik, and boasting the legendary voice actor Lenval Brown (whose gravelly tones narrate *Disco Elysium* so perfectly) amongst its ranks of respected developers.
So, what does this all mean for us, the humble gamers? Well, if you’re a fan of genuinely well-written, mind-bending RPGs that challenge the norm, this is a 'Two Cakes' situation, mate. Maybe even a three or four cakes situation! It's not just one studio trying to recreate magic; it's multiple teams, each with a piece of the original spellbook, forging their own paths. *Zero Parades* crossing the finish line first simply means ZA/UM is the first studio to cut us a slice. It's an exciting time, genuinely. While the corporate backstory is a bit of a chaotic swirl, the end result for players is a bounty of potentially brilliant new games inspired by one of the most innovative RPGs of our time. I, for one, am ready to dig in. Let the espionage, and the philosophical ponderings, begin!
Original article by Connor Makar for Eurogamer.net.
Tags: RPG, Disco Elysium, Indie Games, PC Gaming, Zero Parades
Original article: Eurogamer