By Ed Nightingale

Copyright eurogamer

Dark Math Games, a new studio of former Disco Elysium developers, have announced a change to their forthcoming debut project, which will now be a third-person RPG.

The studio is one of many that have risen from the shattering of Disco Elysium studio ZA/UM, following years of legal threats, accusations of toxic behaviour, and layoffs.

While ZA/UM still exists and is working on a new project, other rival studios have formed to create their own spiritual successor to the isometric detective RPG.

Perhaps that’s why Dark Math Games has now shifted perspective. Formerly XXXNightshift, the studio’s forthcoming project is now known as Tangerine Antarctic and will be a third-person RPG instead of isometric.

“Set at the World’s End ski village at Mount Hope, British Antarctica, Tangerine Antarctic is the name of the in-game hotel, designed by renowned Estonian architect Kaur Stőőr, where most of the games’ action takes place,” explained Timo Albert, founder and art director of Dark Math Games (formerly at ZA/UM).

“This is where you are stuck because of the blizzard and must solve the mysterious murders. And Tangerine Antarctic is one of the important characters of this true detective’s RPG.”

Dark Math Games first revealed its formation and project in October last year. Simultaneously, other former developers announced the formation of their studio Longdue, while others still announced Summer Eternal.

There’s plenty of rivalry going on, then, but ZA/UM told Eurogamer earlier this year it’s all “friendly competition”.

“For us, always we think it’s friendly competition,” said principal writer Siim (Kosmos) Sinamäe. “We’re not going to really think about what the other writers are doing, or the studios… how can I be better at my own craft? We’re competing essentially against ourselves in this way of can we take it further? Do we have to make any compromises? I think it absolutely sets us apart.”