Former developers from the acclaimed RPG Disco Elysium have announced their new project, Red Rooster. The studio, Summer Eternal, operates as a worker cooperative and has detailed their upcoming game in a substantial anthology.
Red Rooster is envisioned as a 3D, real-time, third-person RPG. It draws inspiration from titles such as Planescape: Torment and Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines, while also incorporating elements from Baldur's Gate 3 and Dark Messiah of Might and Magic. The game is set in Arta-Trantor, a "magic realist, our-world-adjacent" river city characterized by its division and volatility, particularly its susceptibility to fire. Developed in Unreal Engine, the city will function as a "physics-powered sandbox" where objects can be individually manipulated and set ablaze.
The narrative follows Redrick Roost, a convict serving a life sentence after an incident involving an "auto-meditation" headset that rendered thousands catatonic. Similar to Disco Elysium's protagonist, Redrick grapples with a multitude of internal "alternate selves" or "roosters" residing within a metaphorical "chicken coop." These internal personas influence dialogue options and character abilities as the game progresses. Recruited by government agents, Redrick's primary objective is to identify an arsonist operating within a fire station managed by his own hero brother. He has one week to achieve this before his parole hearing. His colleagues include Dr. Astrid Albers, a mathematician whose work is affected by a sudden shift in the fundamental laws of mathematics.
The anthology published by Summer Eternal not only outlines Red Rooster but also discusses the studio's formation and its stance within the contemporary game development industry. It features essays on aesthetics, generative AI, and the challenges of pursuing anti-capitalist game development. The book also includes interviews with notable figures in the game industry and beyond.
Summer Eternal appears to be deeply influenced by Marxist ideology, as evidenced by imagery in the anthology contrasting the studio's ideals with venture capitalism. The developers express a vision for a studio that benefits its workers and artists, operating in an industry they feel is dominated by finance and artificial intelligence. They state their goal is to provide "something to believe in" through their work.
Red Rooster is currently in the "early pre-production phase," with an estimated release window of three to four years away, contingent on securing adequate funding. The studio's funding model involves dividing shares among creatives, investors, and a portion set aside for fans.
The game's lore delves into the history of Arta-Trantor, described as three nested cities resulting from centuries of conflict and exploitation, with a recurring theme of fire versus water. The city features various factions, including armed game wardens, couriers, a fire service with a history involving slaves, and hints of a psionic organization.
The character of Redrick Roost has a complex backstory involving the loss of his parents in a house fire, a relationship with a school teacher, and his association with the inventor of the problematic "auto-meditation" device. The malfunction of this device, the Baku headset, led to "mass mental fracturing" and the creation of the "Coop," Redrick's inner world. In the Coop, players can use experience points to modify Redrick's build and interact with his various Rooster-selves. These selves can form factions, and players will decide whether to embrace or suppress them to alter Redrick's stats and dialogue choices, reminiscent of Disco Elysium's Copotypes. Uncontrolled repression of Roosters can lead to them hijacking the Coop.
Astrid Albers, Redrick's initial companion, is a mathematics prodigy with a troubled relationship with her novelist father and a tendency towards deception. She joins Redrick after a stint in rehabilitation following an opiate overdose. Her story involves a personal discovery that the laws of mathematics have been altered, potentially linked to an ongoing heatwave. Both Redrick and Astrid will feature a "rhizomatic clothing system" allowing for synergistic fashion choices, deviating from traditional equipment screens.
A key differentiator for Red Rooster is its emphasis on physics. The game aims to create a "visceral connection" through detailed object interaction, described as the "missing physical counterpart to the ultra-reactive psychological role-play." Players will be able to manipulate objects of varying weight and fragility in real-time, including a "simplified but realistic real-time fire simulation" that reacts to material properties. Arson will likely play a role in uncovering subplots and revelations.
The world of Arta-Trantor is dynamic, with environmental changes like burning lightbulbs and falling leaves occurring independently of player actions. The city's political structure is complex, with international borders intersecting streets and buildings, creating unique exploration possibilities and constraints. Players may encounter "soft borders" that alter jurisdictions and affect gameplay, forcing them to navigate these unusual boundaries.
Summer Eternal stresses that Red Rooster is still in its early stages of development and actively seeking funding. However, the detailed outline presented in their anthology suggests a rich and macabre world with a unique approach to RPG mechanics.