Disco Elysium Mobile: A Bittersweet Experience for Fans

In 2019, a small Estonian studio named ZA/UM launched its debut project on Steam: an isometric, story-rich role-playing game called Disco Elysium. This game felt like a modern successor to classic, thought-provoking RPGs such as Planescape: Torment. Instead of focusing on combat, Disco Elysium was mainly driven by dialogue. Its storyline followed the chaotic journey of an alcoholic detective suffering from amnesia, who must confront his own history while untangling a murder mystery set in a struggling city. Despite its unusual gameplay and narrative, Disco Elysium became a massive success, receiving widespread acclaim from critics and gamers, not to mention bagging several Game of the Year titles.

Initially, Disco Elysium was a Windows-exclusive title, but eventually, it branched out to several other platforms. The game became available on macOS in 2020. After releasing an enhanced version known as The Final Cut, it expanded to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and the now-defunct Google Stadia in March 2021, later arriving on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch within the same year. With these ports, ZA/UM’s acclaimed RPG managed to grace nearly every modern platform, although it had yet to make an appearance on mobile phones—that is, until now.

ZA/UM surprised fans earlier this week with the announcement that Disco Elysium is set to arrive on Android phones in the summer of 2025. This isn’t just a straightforward port; the Android version is being reimagined entirely. Redesigned for vertical screens, the game now adopts a primarily first-person perspective, replacing its 3D environments with captivating 2D artwork and backgrounds, effectively transforming the experience into more of a point-and-click adventure rather than a traditional RPG.

This fresh take on Disco Elysium might be perfect for those seeking a unique experience on the go. It sounds ideal for quick gaming sessions, suitable for fans who don’t have hours to play or for those eager to revisit the game on a mobile device. However, given the controversies that ZA/UM has faced recently, this mobile port might not sit well with some of its fanbase.

Allegations have surfaced regarding ZA/UM’s treatment of its developers, many of whom were crucial in the development of Disco Elysium. In October 2022, a former employee revealed that along with a few colleagues, including ZA/UM’s co-founder Robert Kurvitz, they were abruptly let go a year earlier. Kurvitz, known as the lead designer and writer of the game, alleged they were terminated because they opposed selling both ZA/UM and the Disco Elysium IP to a holding firm owned by the studio’s CEO, Ilmar Kompus. On the other side, representatives from ZA/UM dismissed these allegations, citing a toxic workplace created by Kurvitz and the others as the reason for their dismissal.

To date, this dispute between ZA/UM and Kurvitz remains unresolved, and it’s unclear whose account is truthful. Regardless, most of the original team that worked on Disco Elysium has since moved on to establish new ventures. As a result, many fans are reluctant to endorse the forthcoming Android version, concerned about supporting the current ZA/UM leadership at the expense of the original creators. Any excitement surrounding the new mobile release has unfortunately been clouded by the ongoing drama.