You’ll soon be able to try out Disco Elysium‘s mobile version, which developer ZA/UM describes as a “total reimagination.” The studio announced recently that the game launches on August 5 for Android devices, with the first two chapters offered for free as a demo.
Rather than a direct port, ZA/UM has rebuilt the game in an attempt to make it better complement smaller devices. While the original Disco Elysium is an isometric story-based RPG with full movement controls, the mobile version repackages the art style, characters, and narrative into something more akin to a visual novel. It is now played from a first-person point of view, but you’re not moving the character. Rather, you survey rooms and look for items or points of interest to investigate, and all of the interactivity is designed around touch screens.
ZA/UM has talked about how this approach is an effort to “completely cater to the habits of today’s mobile users.” In addition, the developer is emphasizing that the mobile version is more compatible with quick, pick-up-and-play gaming, stating, “This story-rich adventure has been optimized for short play sessions, allowing players to dive in anytime, anyplace on their mobile devices.”
While this type of description might dissuade some players from checking this version out, GameSpot recently had a chance to preview the game on an Android tablet and came away quite impressed. Check out early impressions from our own Lucy James in the embed above.
If you try out the free chapters and want to grab the full game, Disco Elysium for Android will cost $10 when it launches on August 5. ZA/UM has not yet announced details about an iOS release, but chances are good that it’ll come to more devices in the future.
This might be the only new Disco Elysium-related product in the works, though. Following significant upheaval and controversy, ZA/UM canceled a sequel and expansion and shifted its focus to a new title, called Project C4. Highlighting espionage, intelligence, and betrayal, the game will be an RPG inspired by novels like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.
