Details about Project C4 — a new spy RPG from the creators of Disco Elysium

The developers of Disco Elysium presented Project C4, which retains the key elements of Disco but offers a new setting, character, and fresh mechanics.

The game promises to immerse players in the world of spy intrigue and psychological dilemmas, while maintaining the signature style and depth of the studio’s previous work. In the new project, ZA/UM uses a familiar formula: isometric graphics, picturesque backgrounds, text in the right corner of the screen, etc.

The player will also pass skill tests using dice rolls, but with some changes. The system will be updated with «tension», which allows the player to use an extra die before the roll, but with the risk of receiving penalties in future checks. These penalties disappear after rest.

Also returning, familiar to fans of Disco Elysium «Cabinet of Thoughts». But in Project C4, it works differently: the player can decide whether to accept or reject a certain opinion, which will affect the character’s development.

Another novelty is the «dissonance» system. It penalizes the character if his actions contradict the already accepted ideas. For example, if he decides to quit smoking and then takes up a cigarette again, the game will react to this.

Plot: a spy instead of a detective

Instead of an alcoholic cop like in Disco Elysium, the protagonist of Project C4 is a spy who has been returned from exile for an important mission.

The game takes place in a new setting, but it still resembles Disco — alternative history, mid-twentieth century setting, gloomy atmosphere. Observers who have seen the demo say that the world of Project C4 is very similar to the neighborhood of the previous game Martinaise, although it is a separate place.

The protagonist is a character with a fixed appearance, gender, and past, like Harry Dubois in Disco Elysium. The voice acting will also be full-fledged, and the narrator’s style will remain the same — «pretend disinterested, but clearly involved in the process».

Visuals and game style

Project C4 will retain the style of Disco Elysium, but with some updates. For example, the quest log will have special key icons that will change depending on how the player completes the task.

The inventory has also changed: instead of the standard character model, the player will see their hero in the form of a «paper doll». It is planned that this will allow you to better examine equipment and clothing.