Studio ZA/UM, which released the cult role-playing detective Disco Elysium in October 2019, announced its next game, Project [C4], almost six years after that.
Image Source: ZA / UM
Project [C4] is positioned as a genre-defining spy RPG in an original, but painfully familiar setting. The minute-long teaser trailer that accompanied the announcement is attached below.
Project [C4] takes place in a world where the human mind has become an arena for geopolitical battles and espionage. The protagonist will find himself drawn into a brutal, hidden struggle for truth and influence.
Players take on the role of an Operant serving a dubious world power and are sent on a deadly mission that, worse yet, will put the hero at risk of having his true identity exposed.
They promise a story of behind-the-scenes struggles, espionage, loyalty and betrayal, failure as a motivator for progress, the consequences of decisions made, deep dialogues and high stakes.
Project [C4] is inspired by the novels of John le Carré (The Carla Trilogy), includes elements of psychedelic science fiction (Ursula Le Guin, Philip K. Dick) and action scenes inspired by the works of Oldboy director Park Chan-wook.
Project [C4] does not yet have a release date or target platforms. Although the rights to Disco Elysium are owned by ZA/UM, many of the game’s key developers have left the studio and founded their own companies.