Disco Elysium splinter studio’s Red Rooster is going to be a ‘an incendiary, physics-driven RPG’ where you play an inmate, an opiate-fuelled mathematician, and a bus driver with nunchucks
Red Rooster, a new physics-driven RPG, is being developed by former members of ZA/UM, the studio behind Disco Elysium. Following ZA/UM’s internal turmoil, several developers created a splinter studio to work on this ambitious new project.
The game combines “cerebral, worldbuilding-rich RPGs with the genetics of physics-driven immersive sims.” Players take on multiple roles throughout the experience: a white-collar inmate turned arson investigator, an opiate-dependent mathematician, and a bus driver equipped with nunchucks. The narrative follows protagonist Redrick Roost as he investigates a mysterious string of arsons that appear connected to his brother, the city’s fire chief.
Red Rooster draws inspiration from the immersive sim genre while maintaining the narrative depth and worldbuilding players appreciated in Disco Elysium. The physics-driven gameplay distinguishes it from traditional RPGs, promising dynamic interactions and consequences within its world.
The announcement signals that despite ZA/UM’s dissolution, the creative talent behind Disco Elysium remains active in game development, continuing to push boundaries in the indie RPG space with unconventional mechanics and storytelling.