Over the last few years, a wave of new studios has quietly formed around former Disco Elysium developers following some well-publicized shake-ups at ZA/UM. Many of these teams have been chasing the elusive magic of that critically acclaimed RPG, aiming to capture its unique blend of narrative depth and atmospheric world-building. One of the more intriguing entrants is Longdue, the studio behind Hopetown, a partly crowdfunded project that’s been flying under the radar.
Longdue recently confirmed that their original narrative lead, who joined the studio with a vision closely tied to that Disco spirit, departed last year. Despite the shake-up, the game’s opening section is now playable, showing that progress is being made even as the studio retools its creative direction. Hopetown’s painterly art style still shines through, offering a compelling setting that echoes some of the genre’s best storytelling, though it remains to be seen how the narrative will ultimately unfold with the new team at the helm.
Fans curious about this spiritual successor movement will want to keep an eye on Hopetown as it continues to take shape. It’s a reminder that the ripple effects of Disco Elysium’s legacy are still very much alive, inspiring fresh stories crafted by some of its former architects.
Source: rockpapershotgun.com
