Ex-ZA/UM Developers at Summer Eternal Announce Physics-Driven RPG Red Rooster
Summer Eternal, a studio formed by former ZA/UM developers including Argo Tuulik, Dora Klindžić, Anastasia Ivanova, and Michael Oswell, has announced its debut project titled Red Rooster. The game is described as a physics-driven immersive sim and incendiary RPG, revealed alongside a 500-page physical book named the Summer Eternal Anthology.
Key points
- Summer Eternal is composed of veteran developers from Disco Elysium creator ZA/UM.
- Red Rooster is an Unreal Engine-based, physics-driven RPG set in an urban archipelago.
- The game was announced via the Summer Eternal Anthology, a 500-page physical book priced starting at €69.
- Purchasing the book grants membership in the Summer Eternal Players Non-Profit organisation, which holds a five percent ownership stake in the studio.
What Happened
Summer Eternal, a studio founded by former ZA/UM developers and staff members, has officially revealed its debut game, Red Rooster. The announcement was made through the Summer Eternal Anthology, a 500-page physical book detailing the project alongside essays on labor and the video game industry.
In Red Rooster, players assume the role of Redrick Roost, a white-collar inmate working as an arson investigator alongside an opiate-dependent mathematician. The narrative revolves around a string of arsons connected to Redrick's brother, who serves as the city's fire chief. The game is set in the fractalised border archipelago of the tri-partie city of Arta-Tantor.
Context
The development team includes Disco Elysium writer and world-builder Argo Tuulik, Dora Klindžić, Anastasia Ivanova, Michael Oswell, Croatian Game Development Alliance secretary Aleksandar Gavrilović, and narrator Lenval Brown. Summer Eternal is positioning Red Rooster as a physics-driven immersive sim built in Unreal Engine, moving away from isometric constraints into a three-dimensional world with dynamic camera movement.
The studio reports that the game is nearing the end of pre-production with an internal playable tech demo already in existence. Alongside standard game design inspirations, the developers cite various television series, economic discussions, and literature as influences.
What Comes Next
The Summer Eternal Anthology is available for purchase in Standard editions priced at €69 and Deluxe Firestarter bundles priced at €99. Buyers receive membership in the Summer Eternal Players Non-Profit organisation, which owns five percent of the studio and provides a vote on governance matters and future profit distribution.
Why it matters
Summer Eternal is attempting a worker- and player-funded model, utilizing a player non-profit organization to grant a five percent ownership stake and voting rights to book purchasers.
What we know
- Summer Eternal is formed by former ZA/UM staff including Argo Tuulik, Dora Klindžić, Anastasia Ivanova, and Michael Oswell.
- Red Rooster is an Unreal Engine-based, physics-driven RPG nearing the end of pre-production.
- The game was announced through the Summer Eternal Anthology, a 500-page physical book.
- Book purchasers receive membership in the Summer Eternal Players Non-Profit organisation, which holds five percent ownership in the studio.
What remains unclear
- The ultimate commercial release date and final quality of Red Rooster remain to be seen as the project is still nearing the end of pre-production.
How the story developed
Summer Eternal announces Red Rooster and anthology book
Former ZA/UM developers at Summer Eternal announce their new physics-driven RPG Red Rooster via a 500-page physical book.
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