Back in 2019, a little-known Estonian studio called ZA/UM released its first-ever project on Steam: an isometric, narrative-driven role-playing game by the name of Disco Elysium. Designed as a spiritual successor to the thought-provoking computer RPGs of yesteryear, such as Planescape: Torment, Disco Elysium was primarily a dialogue-driven game that featured little-to-no combat. Its story followed the misadventures of an alcoholic, amnesiac detective who had to come to terms with his past after being tasked with solving a murder mystery in a poverty-stricken city. Despite its unorthodox gameplay loop and premise, Disco Elysium ended up being a runaway success. ZA/UM's debut release garnered praise from critics and players alike, and it even won multiple Game of the Year awards.
Disco Elysium was originally a Windows PC exclusive, but it was eventually ported to several other platforms. The game came to macOS in 2020 and, after it received an enhanced re-release titled The Final Cut, it was launched on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and the now-defunct Google Stadia in March 2021. Disco Elysium: The Final Cut was then brought to Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch later that year. Thanks to these ports, ZA/UM’s hit RPG has been made available on nearly every modern platform except for mobile phones, but that’s soon about to change.
Disco Elysium Developer Reveals Details for Next Game
ZA/UM, the UK-based studio behind the esoteric 2019 RPG Disco Elysium, finally reveals more details about its next game project.
Disco Elysium's Android Port is Launching at an Inopportune Time
Disco Elysium is Coming to Android Phones Later this Year
Earlier this week, ZA/UM made the surprise announcement that Disco Elysium would be ported to Android phones in summer 2025. The company revealed, however, that this new Android version will not just be a traditional port, but instead a completely new iteration of the RPG. Disco Elysium's mobile phone port has not only been adjusted to fit on a vertical phone screen, it has also been modified to play from a primarily first-person perspective. Rather than featuring 3D environments, this version of the game features 2D artwork and backgrounds. The Android port will make Disco Elysium feel more like a point-and-click adventure game than a traditional RPG.
Compared to the original game, this new version of Disco Elysium seems like it will be a lot easier to play in short bursts, which may make it more suitable for players who don't have the time to sit in front of a console or PC for hours on end. Since it'll provide a wholly unique experience, it may also be perfect for those who are looking to replay Disco Elysium on the go. However, due to the controversies that have plagued ZA/UM in recent years, this mobile phone port may leave a bitter taste in some fans' mouths.
ZA/UM Has Been Criticized for Its Mistreatment of Employees
ZA/UM has gone under fire for its alleged mistreatment of developers, many of whom played a pivotal role in Disco Elysium's creation. In October 2022, a former employee at the Estonian company revealed that he and a handful of other staff members, including ZA/UM's very own co-founder, Robert Kurvitz, had involuntarily left the studio a year prior. Kurvitz, who was the lead designer and writer for Disco Elysium, claimed that he and some of his fellow developers were fired simply because they were not in favor of selling both ZA/UM and the Disco Elysium IP to a holding firm owned by the ZA/UM CEO, Ilmar Kompus. ZA/UM representatives denied these allegations and purported that Kurvitz and the other former employees had been laid off for creating a toxic workplace environment.
The Drama Surrounding Disco Elysium and ZA/UM Has Overshadowed the Upcoming Mobile Port
To this day, the feud between ZA/UM and Kurvitz has not been completely resolved, since it's still unclear which of these conflicting reports is the most accurate. Whatever the case may be, however, many of the former employees at ZA/UM have already moved on and established new studios. Most of the people who originally worked on Disco Elysium are no longer at the company and, as such, many fans aren't willing to support the upcoming Disco Elysium Android port since they don't want the current leadership at ZA/UM to profit from other people's work. Sadly, any potential excitement for this new version of Disco Elysium has been overshadowed by the drama surrounding its developer.
Disco Elysium
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 92 /100 Critics Rec: 96%
- Released
- October 15, 2019
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs, Violence
- Developer(s)
- ZA/UM
- Publisher(s)
- ZA/UM
- Engine
- Unity
WHERE TO PLAY
Disco Elysium - The Final Cut is the definitive edition of the groundbreaking role playing game. You’re a detective with a unique skill system at your disposal and a whole city block to carve your path across. Interrogate unforgettable characters, crack murders, or take bribes. Become a hero or an absolute disaster of a human being.
Full voice acting. All of the city's beautiful people are brought to life with full English voiceover. Play characters against each other, try to help them, or fall hopelessly in love as each word is spoken to you with the appropriate accent and emotion.
New political vision quests. Face the reality of your worldview as your political compass leads you down new paths. Discover more citizens, a whole extra area, and monumental sights as you leave an even bigger mark on the world by chasing your dreams.
Unprecedented freedom of choice. Intimidate, sweet-talk, resort to violence, write poetry, sing karaoke, dance like a beast, or solve the meaning of life. Disco Elysium - The Final Cut is the most faithful representation of desktop role playing ever attempted in video games.
Countless tools for role playing. Mix and match from 24 wildly different skills. Develop a personal style with over 80 clothing items. Wield 14 tools from guns to flashlights to a boombox, or pour yourself a cocktail of 6 different psychoactive substances. Develop your character even further with 60 wild thoughts to think – with the detective's Thought Cabinet.
A revolutionary dialogue system with unforgettable characters. The world is alive with real people, not extras. Ask probing questions, make insightful observations, or express your wildest desires as you play cop or something completely different. Disco Elysium's revolutionary dialogue system lets you do almost anything.
Carve your unique path across the city. Explore, manipulate, collect tare, or become a millionaire in an open world unlike anything you've seen before. The city of Revachol is yours for the taking, one small piece at a time. From the streets to the beaches – and beyond.
Hard boiled, hard core. Death, sex, taxes, and disco – nothing is off the table. Revachol is a real place with real challenges. Solve a massive murder investigation, or relax and kick back with sprawling side-cases. The detective decides, the citizens abide.
- Genre(s)
- RPG
