Former developers from the acclaimed Disco Elysium studio ZA/UM have announced their new project, an RPG titled "Red Rooster." Developed by Summer Eternal, a studio that includes Disco Elysium writer Argo Tuulik and narrator Lenval Brown, the game is described as an "incendiary, physics-driven RPG." This new title appears to move away from Disco Elysium's visual novel style into the realm of immersive sims, drawing inspiration from titles like Larian's Divinity Engine games and Dark Messiah of Might and Magic.
Players will step into the role of Redrick Roost, an inmate who becomes an arson investigator. His partners in this role will be Dr. Astrid Albers, an opiate-dependent mathematician, and Rico, a nunchaku-wielding truth activist who also drives a bus. The game is set in the "tripartite city of Arta-Tantor" during the hottest summer on record, positioned as the "beginning of the future" rather than an "end of history," hinting at a more dynamic and perhaps optimistic setting compared to the philosophical underpinnings of Disco Elysium.
The game's premise involves investigating a mysterious string of arsons that seem connected to Redrick's brother, the city's fire chief. The official description highlights a blend of "cerebral, worldbuilding-rich RPGs with the genetics of physics-driven immersive sims." The artwork released for Red Rooster suggests a vibrant and surreal aesthetic, distinct from the decaying atmosphere often associated with Disco Elysium, focusing on themes of "wildfires of psychedelic revolution" over slow decay.
The split of developers from ZA/UM after the studio's internal conflicts has led to several new projects from its former members. Summer Eternal's Red Rooster represents one of these ventures, aiming to retain a revolutionary spirit while exploring new gameplay mechanics and narrative themes.