ZA/UM Reveals Zero Parades at Gamescom — Disco Elysium’s Creators Tease a Dark Espionage CRPG
ZA/UM, the studio behind Disco Elysium, gave players a first look at its next title, Zero Parades, during Gamescom Opening Night Live 2025. The studio described the game as a *story-rich espionage RPG*, and the trailer leans into mystery, concept art, and a familiar visual tone.
- Reveal: Gamescom Opening Night Live 2025
- Genre: CRPG with espionage themes
- Player role: a tormented *operant* (a type of secret agent)
- Trailer content: concept art, sketches, and a short cinematic tease
- Development: clearly early, no release date yet
- Wishlist: available on Steam
What the trailer showed
The announcement trailer mixes short cinematic moments with a lot of concept art and sketches. It opens and closes with ominous lines: “Your friends are you,” and “Each a separate limb of the whole.” The tone is heavy on atmosphere, and the visuals appear close to Disco Elysium’s art style. Because much of the footage is early-stage art, the trailer feels more like a mood piece than a gameplay demo.
Story and setup
ZA/UM calls the game a *story-rich espionage RPG*. Players will step into the role of a tormented *operant* on a mission to “pick up the pieces of [their] broken network, untangle a bloody web of intrigue at the End of History, and prove [themselves] on the big stage or blow it all up — again.” The premise suggests layers of betrayal and reconstruction, but specific gameplay systems were not shown.
The studio and context
Geoff Keighley introduced the reveal and noted ZA/UM’s recent changes. He said, “ZA/UM, the studio behind [Zero Parades], has been through a host of changes,” referencing the studio’s post-Disco Elysium breakdown. Yet, he added, those now at the studio were ready to show the first look at their next CRPG.
When you can play
There is no launch date yet. The game is clearly in early development, and the trailer leans heavily on concept art rather than finished gameplay. However, you can add Zero Parades to your wishlist on Steam for updates and announcements: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2863680/ZERO_PARADES/.
