Why Zero Parades is Charting Its Own Course Away from Disco Elysium
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
ZA/UM writers discuss how their upcoming CRPG, Zero Parades, moves past the legacy of Disco Elysium by swapping detective tropes for a cerebral, espionage driven narrative.
Following up on a generational indie hit is never simple, and the team at ZA/UM faces a uniquely complex challenge with Zero Parades: For Dead Spies. Following a strong showing on Steam Next Fest, the writers behind the upcoming CRPG stopped by GDC to discuss how the project handles the long shadow of Disco Elysium. Speaking with Giovanni Colantonio at Polygon, writers Siim Sinamäe and Honey Watson explained that while the visual style and dense text heavy format might feel familiar to fans, the narrative DNA is shifting in a distinctly different direction.
Rather than leaning into the tropes of a redemption arc or a classic detective story, the team is drawing heavy inspiration from John le Carré, Ursula K. Le Guin, and Thomas Pynchon to build a cerebral espionage narrative. Instead of playing as a broken police officer wielding institutional authority, players step into the shoes of Hershel Wilk, an undercover operative navigating a severe identity crisis in the town of Portofiro. The writers noted that spies lack the explicit power of cops, meaning the mechanics revolve around social engineering, delicate conversations, and quiet survival rather than cracking a case through force.
For a studio that has weathered significant behind the scenes drama since its 2019 masterpiece, Zero Parades represents a chance to prove its creative future without leaning on nostalgia. By trading the black and white stakes of law enforcement for the murky psychological gray areas of espionage, ZA/UM is trying to construct something that honors its technical foundations while exploring entirely new facets of the human condition. You can read the full, in depth interview over at Polygon to see how the team is tackling this high pressure balancing act. Original reporting by Giovanni Colantonio on Polygon.
Tags: Zero Parades, ZA/UM, Disco Elysium, GDC 2026, CRPG
Original article: Polygon