Hopetown Studio’s Longdue Announces Playable Opening for Disco Elysium-Inspired RPG Amidst Original Narrative Lead Departure

January 15, 2026byadmin

### The Rise of Spiritual Successors to Disco Elysium

In recent times, the gaming landscape has been notably influenced by the legacy of *Disco Elysium*, a groundbreaking role-playing game developed by ZA/UM. Following internal conflicts within ZA/UM, several former developers have emerged to establish new studios dedicated to creating games that echo the innovative spirit of *Disco Elysium*. Among these is Longdue, which is in the process of developing *Hopetown*, a partially crowdfunded RPG that has generated significant interest and support.

#### The Development of Hopetown

Longdue recently announced that *Hopetown* now features a playable introduction, despite a notable shift in its narrative leadership. Initially, Grant Roberts, a seasoned writer with experience from studios like Rocksteady and Bungie, was the narrative lead. However, he departed the studio just months after the Kickstarter campaign successfully exceeded its initial goal of £25,000, garnering £117,924 from over 2,700 backers. Roberts, whose contribution was pivotal in shaping the vision of *Hopetown*, left Longdue in July 2025, although his affiliation remains visible on the studio’s website.

Former ZA/UM developer Martin Luiga has stepped into the narrative lead role, bringing his experience from *Disco Elysium* into the development of *Hopetown*. Longdue’s team has communicated a commitment to refining the game’s skills system and narrative elements. The studio has confirmed Luiga’s involvement, emphasizing advancements in the game’s world-building and plot development, including a well-defined opening scene now in playable form.

#### Community Engagement and Future Outlook

Longdue has been proactive in maintaining transparency with backers through monthly developer updates, which highlight progress and changes within the team. This approach aims to foster confidence among supporters who have invested in the project’s success.

While Longdue’s focus has been on *Hopetown*, the original studio, ZA/UM, continues to work on a playthrough of the *Disco Elysium* universe with their project *Zero Parades*. Additionally, other studios with connections to former *Disco Elysium* developers are pursuing their interpretations of the genre. Dark Math Games is developing a ski resort murder mystery titled *Tangerine Antarctic*, and Summer Eternal has announced a game codenamed *Red Rooster* through an unconventional medium—a book.

#### The Landscape of Disco-Inspired Projects

The ongoing evolution of games inspired by *Disco Elysium* reflects a broader trend within the industry, where former developers regroup to explore new narratives and gameplay mechanics. Robert Kurvitz and Aleksander Rostov, key figures behind *Disco Elysium*, are also reportedly developing their own project at Red Info, albeit with less public visibility than their counterparts.

The mixed legacy of *Disco Elysium* and the surrounding controversies surrounding its development have created a skeptical atmosphere regarding the viability of these spiritual successors. As players await the next wave of narrative-driven RPGs, the journey of *Hopetown* and its fellow projects will be closely watched, as they attempt to recapture the unique lightning of *Disco Elysium* while carving out their own identities in the gaming world.

Total Chaos: A Unique Blend of Doom and Resident Evil Creating an Engaging Experience

I thought I had Total Chaos figured out. Creepy ruined castle, ironically named Fort Oasis. Shambling undead enemies and scuttling monsters. Resource scavenging and simple crafting mechanics. Reeks of knock-off Resident Evil territory, I thought. Not bad territory to be in, mind, but familiar. And, odd, considering I was locking eyes with hellspawn rather than shuffling corpses.

Then I got into my first fight.

The Fame of the Kim Kardashian Skin in Fortnite

**Fortnite Chapter 7: The Ascendance of Kim Kardashian’s Renowned Skin**

Fortnite, the highly acclaimed battle royale experience, keeps enthralling gamers with its continually changing offerings. Chapter 7 has unveiled numerous new elements and cosmetics, with one of the most discussed arrivals being the Kim Kardashian skin, a member of the game’s Icon series. Released on December 13, this skin has quickly established itself as a favorite among users, reportedly adopted by around 5% of the player base, based on data from Fortnite.GG, an independent platform that organizes game statistics into easily understandable formats.

### Analyzing the Popularity

The Kim Kardashian skin has attracted considerable attention and use in a remarkably short span. For reference, it stands as the leading skin in Chapter 7 and ranks 70th in the all-time usage of Fortnite cosmetics. This astonishing ranking is particularly noteworthy considering its limited time availability and the competitive array of character skins available in the game. Trailing Kardashian in popularity is the Backlash skin, recognized for its perceived tactical benefits due to its camouflage attributes in specific game zones.

The Kardashian bundle is priced at 3,000 V-Bucks (approximately $19), providing not only the Iconic Kim Kardashian skin—which showcases a black latex catsuit reminiscent of her SKIMS collection—but also a standard skin variant, a variety of accessories, emotes, and a glider. In spite of some views on Kardashian’s style being lackluster, the design is distinguished by its meticulous attention to detail and diversity.

### Customization and Community Interaction

What notably distinguishes the Kim Kardashian skin is the vast array of customization possibilities offered. Players can modify her appearance using a variety of styles and colors. The Iconic skin can assume multiple variations, from tank tops to turtlenecks, and players can choose from an assortment of hair styles and shades. This degree of personalization resonates with Fortnite’s varied community, especially among female gamers and LGBTQ+ participants, who value the chance to showcase their creativity within the game.

Additionally, the gameplay experience has been enriched by the whimsical cultural references associated with Kardashian. Creative interpretations, such as recreating memorable moments from her reality series, have been widely disseminated across platforms like TikTok, further enhancing the skin’s allure. The community flourishes on the playful nature of these exchanges, promoting shared experiences as players team up, each showcasing different interpretations of the Kim aesthetic.

### Conclusion

The introduction of Kim Kardashian’s skin to Fortnite highlights the game’s nimble capacity to weave pop culture into its fabric. With an ideal fusion of customization, community engagement, and cultural significance, the skin has rapidly secured popularity and tangible use among players. Available until December 28, the Kardashian bundle exemplifies how collaborative and immersive Fortnite continues to be, attracting players and nurturing profound, meaningful interactions within the vibrant game universe. As the season unfolds, it will be fascinating to observe how this trend shapes future cosmetics and collaborations.

Epic CEO Requests Valve and Steam to Eliminate Requirement for Developers to Disclose Generative AI Usage

A couple of weeks after arguing that generative AI shouldn’t be considered in videogame reviews, Epic CEO Tim Sweeney is calling for Steam and digital storefronts generally to stop requiring generative AI disclosures.

Sweeney’s argument is broadly that all videogames will use generative AI tools at some stage, so you and I might as well stop hearing about it. He thinks tagging things as made with generative AI is only necessary when there’s a formal need to prove legal authorship, or help buyers understand whether they have rights to a piece of digital art. There’s no sense letting regular old videogame players learn that stuff. It will only make us upset, and possibly less willing to play videogames with generative AI in them, like Fortnite.

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