Zero Parades: ZA/UM’s new CRPG teased at Gamescom 2025
Six years after Disco Elysium, ZA/UM is teasing a new CRPG titled Zero Parades. The reveal came during Gamescom Opening Night Live 2025, where a trailer blended cinematic moments with gameplay, hinting at a stylish, shadowy world of espionage.
During the presentation, host Geoff Keighley described Zero Parades as “a dive into the shadowy world of espionage, where the truth can be stranger than fiction, and every failure isn’t the end, but the start of a new path.” The footage leans into a neon-noir aesthetic, following a brilliant, relentless spy named Herschel. Visuals include scenes of a person slumped in a chair while objects whirl around, and a character leaning against a telephone as the world around them unfolds.
A cryptic line in the trailer—“your friends are you. Each a separate limb of the whole”—adds to the intrigue, leaving room for interpretation much like Disco Elysium did in its time. While the trailer’s specifics remain enigmatic, the vibe clearly nods to ZA/UM’s distinctive storytelling style.
ZA/UM is developing Zero Parades, but the studio has faced turnover in recent years, with several key members of the original Disco Elysium team no longer on staff following layoffs and departures. Despite this, the game appears to carry the original’s recognizable look and sensibility. The mobile version of Disco Elysium previously impressed players with its execution, providing a hopeful signal that Zero Parades could retain the studio’s acclaimed narrative flair even as it evolves.
Fans should keep an eye on Gamescom 2025 schedules for further announcements, trailers, and details about Zero Parades and other upcoming titles from ZA/UM.
Additional notes: If Zero Parades hinges on a strong, choice-driven espionage narrative, it could broaden ZA/UM’s reach within the CRPG space and bring new depth to the studio’s signature approach. A positive trajectory would be welcomed by Disco Elysium fans eager for more of the studio’s moody, cerebral storytelling.