The History of Disco Elysium is a special series in which we ask our narrative lead Martin Luiga — one of the founding members of the ZA/UM cultural movement that brought the world Disco Elysium — our most burning questions about the making of Disco and the early days of ZA/UM.
Before you dive into this interview, don’t forget to wishlist Hopetown on Steam to follow development and help us reach more players.
Hopetown Inspirations: The History of Disco Elysium as told by Martin Luiga | Part One
How was Disco Elysium really made? Our narrative lead Martin Luiga, one of ZA/UM's founding members, tells his story.
In part one of this special series, Martin shares:
The early days of ZA/UM in 2000s Estonia
Meeting Robert Kurvitz and forming the collective
How chaos turned into the beloved cRPG we know today
Why personal freedom was the secret ingredient
"I would say that Disco Elysium is a fruit of many people fighting aggressively for their own personal freedom."
Martin's work and creative approach deeply influence the complex, familiar-yet-strange world we're creating in Hopetown. This is a series that explores the origins of Martin's creative influences, how he helped create the brilliant and beloved game Disco Elysium, and, later, how that approach now informs his work on Hopetown.
The crew, with Robert Kurvitz in the middle, Kaur Kender in the back row, wearing sunglasses, and Martin Luiga the fourth in the second row. – Photo provided by Martin Luiga. Image credit: Ruudu Ulas
Closing Note
Hopetown lives in the space between the real and the surreal — a world that feels remembered, but not quite yours. Every detail in Hopetown — from a fragment of dialogue to the way memory twists — is shaped by the writers who breathe life into its world. Gerard's work helps ensure the town feels alive: imperfect, layered, and impossible to forget.
Read the full interview here.
The Next Lead
Martin's work and creative approach deeply influence the complex, familiar-yet-strange world we're creating in Hopetown. This is a series that explores the origins of our team's creative influences, how they helped create the brilliant and beloved game Disco Elysium, and, later, how that approach now informs their work on Hopeton.
Join the Conversation
We’re building more than just a game — we’re building a community. Share your thoughts, theories, and favourite details from Martin's interview in our Discord.
And don’t forget to wishlist Hopetown on Steam.
Until next time,
— The Hopetown Team