ZA/UM Announced the ‘Tiktokification’ of Disco Elysium

ZA/UM has announced a mobile adaptation of Disco Elysium, designed for short, episodic play sessions. According to Eurogamer, the reworked version, set to launch in summer 2025 on Android, shifts away from the original’s isometric RPG mechanics in favor of a visual novel-style experience optimized for vertical screens.

The studio describes the adaptation as an effort to make Disco Elysium more accessible on mobile, with a structure tailored for brief gameplay sessions. “We intend to captivate the TikTok user with quick hits of compelling story, art, and audio,” said studio head Denis Havel. Narrative lead Chris Priestman added that the game is now “structured to fit the way people play on mobile, making it effortless to enjoy in short bursts.”

The first two chapters will be available for free, with the full game unlocked through a single purchase. Pre-registration is now open.

The announcement follows news of ZA/UM’s next project, C4, a new RPG described as a mix of espionage thriller and psychedelic sci-fi. Since the release of Disco Elysium, ZA/UM has undergone internal disputes and legal battles, leading to the departure of key developers. Several former team members have launched competing projects, including Hopetown from Longue, XXX Nightshift from Dark Math Games, and a yet-unnamed project from Summer Eternal, led by Disco Elysium worldbuilding co-creator Argo Tuulik.

Disco Elysium, developed by ZA/UM, launched in October 2019 for PC, followed by releases on consoles and macOS. The narrative-driven RPG was widely praised for its deep storytelling, earned numerous accolades, including four BAFTA Game Awards and The Game Awards’ Best Narrative and Best Independent Game in 2019.