Project C4? Zero Parades? ZA/UM's New Spy Saga Emerges From the Shadows (and the Drama)
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
ZA/UM's mysterious Project C4 is officially named *Zero Parades*, a spy cRPG that promises a 'Disco Elysiumy' experience with failure as a core mechanic, all while navigating the studio's tumultuous past and a cheeky tagline.
Right, so you know that feeling when you've been cooking up a reality-bending spell, you finally cast it, and then suddenly you've got two identical, yet subtly different, versions of the same thing floating about? Yeah, that’s pretty much how ZA/UM's new post-Disco Elysium spy game decided to reveal itself at Gamescom Opening Night Live. One minute, we’re all thinking 'Project C4,' the next, Geoff Keighley – bless his earnest Keighleybot heart – is introducing something called 'Zero Parades' as a 'first look.' Mate, my digital tea leaves were spinning faster than a forgotten washing machine.
Turns out, unless ZA/UM’s gone full espionage and decided to confuse us with a double bluff – which, frankly, wouldn’t be out of character given the spy theme – *Zero Parades* is the shiny new moniker for what we previously knew as Project C4. A proper name for the elusive cRPG that's been cooking away in the studio's cauldron since the rather… tumultuous departures of some key *Disco Elysium* minds. And let me tell you, this isn't just a name change; it comes with a baggage cart full of context.
Now, anyone who's been lurking in the digital shadows knows the *Disco Elysium* saga is almost as convoluted as its own narrative. Accusations, counter-accusations, cancelled projects (farewell, potential *Disco* expansion, we hardly knew ye!), and a studio navigating some seriously choppy waters. So, when the *Zero Parades* trailer dropped, accompanied by optional taglines including the rather pointed 'Zero Parades for fake radicals,' well, my eyebrow did a little interpretive dance. Given the history of folks with, shall we say, *radical ideas* leaving ZA/UM amidst the drama, that line feels less like cheeky marketing and more like a wizard’s curse whispered under their breath. It’s certainly… bold. And it immediately makes you wonder: is this a statement? A jab? Or just a very unfortunate coincidence in a game about ideological conflict?
But let’s put the studio’s internal politics in a separate filing cabinet for a moment and talk about the game itself, because that's what we're here for, isn't it? *Zero Parades* plunges us into the shoes – or perhaps the trench coat – of Hershel Wilk, alias CASCADE. The description sounds deliciously *Disco Elysium*-adjacent: 'brilliant, burnt-out, possibly cursed,' and an 'Anti-Icon.' Oh, and Hershel’s a woman, so if your brain immediately conjured up a Harry Du Bois type, give that mental image a bit of a gender-flip. The vibe is less cop, more covert operative, but the internal turmoil and existential angst seem to be very much on the menu.
The premise sees Hershel recalled for a 'mysterious assignment' five years after leading a team into some sort of metaphorical abyss, haunted by past failures. Sounds like a Tuesday, honestly. But here’s the interesting bit: you’re tossed into a 'three-way struggle for cultural and ideological power' across a new, unforgettable city. And this city, much like Revachol before it, isn’t just a backdrop. It’s described as a character in its own right, with its own secrets, traumas, and even miracles to uncover. If ZA/UM can pull off world-building half as rich as *Disco Elysium* did, then my friends, we are in for a treat.
One of the promises reiterated from the earlier Project C4 hints is that failure isn't just a dead end; it's a narrative pathway. You’ll apparently be failing a lot, and those failures will, through improvisation, lead you to new, unexpected places. Now, this is where my curiosity truly sparks. In a world of save-scumming and optimised playthroughs, an RPG that embraces failure as a core narrative driver is genuinely exciting. It forces you to roll with the punches, to accept consequences, and to truly role-play. It's a bold move that could either be brilliantly liberating or incredibly frustrating, depending on the execution. But it aligns perfectly with that 'dice are sometimes,' chaotic philosophy that makes for compelling stories.
From a player's perspective, this reveal raises a whole host of questions. Can ZA/UM, in its current iteration, capture that unique magic that made *Disco Elysium* a genre-defining masterpiece? Will the narrative be as densely packed, the characters as vividly etched, and the choices as morally ambiguous? Or will the past troubles overshadow the present development? It’s a tightrope walk, to be sure.
For now, *Zero Parades* remains without a release date, lurking in the shadows like a good spy should. But if you’re anything like me – a curious digital wizard who’s always wondered what happens when you let the dice fall where they may, even if it means a critical failure – then this is definitely one to keep an eye on. And maybe, just maybe, it’ll prove that even after a few reality-bending mishaps, magic can still happen. Now, where did I put my wishing list…
Tags: CRPG, SpyGame, NarrativeRPG, Gamescom, ZAUM
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun