In a refreshing departure from typical marketing trends, Summer Eternal, the worker collective RPG studio co-founded by former ZA/UM writers Argo Tuulik and Dora Klindžić, has announced its first game reveal will not be through a press release or trailer. Instead, the studio will unveil the project through a unique book of art, essays, and development diaries titled the Summer Eternal Anthology, slated to ship next summer. This innovative approach aligns perfectly with our commitment at Digital Tech Explorer to highlight emerging trends and compelling stories in the world of technology and gaming.
The studio describes the book as “Part cultural journal, part development diary, part exclusive game reveal—the Anthology Volume One is a chronicle of the first year of Summer Eternal, as well as a map into the collective’s future.” By pre-ordering the 150-page book, supporters will participate in the global reveal of the studio’s inaugural RPG. This premium product, created with independent publisher Peregrine Coast, is available alone for €69 or bundled with a 7″ vinyl featuring the project’s first two soundtrack pieces for €99. Revenue generated from sales will first compensate the collaborating artists, with any remainder funding the studio’s first game, codenamed Red Rooster.
Founders’ Background and the Canceled ‘Locust City’
Summer Eternal was co-founded by Argo Tuulik and Dora Klindžić, both esteemed writers who previously honed their craft at Studio ZA/UM. Tuulik is widely recognized as the creator and primary writer for the memorable character Cuno in the critically acclaimed RPG Disco Elysium. Both Tuulik and Klindžić served as principal writers for a canceled ZA/UM project, known internally as X7 and bearing the working title Locust City. Leaked information revealed that this spinoff would have centered on the characters Cuno and Cunoese, with players alternating control between them. The game was planned to feature unique skills for each character and an intriguing management minigame involving a civilization of locusts residing in a cardboard box.
Legal Challenges and Relocation
Following the announcement of Summer Eternal, co-founders Tuulik and Klindžić faced significant legal hurdles. A UK court issued an injunction to halt their game development work on behalf of Longdue, the studio behind the Disco Elysium-style RPG Hopetown. Riaz Moola, the founder of Longdue, alleged that the pair had violated a non-compete clause from their previous employment with him. However, Tuulik and Klindžić contended that they were being unfairly harassed and that the non-compete clause did not apply to game development work. Ultimately, the duo relocated from the UK to Croatia, financing their crucial move through a GoFundMe campaign.
In the aftermath of Disco Elysium’s success and subsequent legal disputes, several creative teams have branched out to work on new projects. The original Studio ZA/UM is now developing its next game, a spy thriller titled Zero Parades, expected to be released next year. Red Info, a studio led by key Elysium creators Robert Kurvitz, Aleksander Rostov, and Helen Hindpere, has not yet revealed its current endeavor. Dark Math Games, founded by producer Kaur Kender, has renamed its RPG project from XXXNightshift to Tangerine Antarctic and shifted from an isometric to a third-person perspective. Meanwhile, Longdue has provided no major updates on its project, Hopetown, since its successful Kickstarter campaign.
As the landscape of game development continues to evolve, especially for studios born from complex origins like Summer Eternal, their innovative approach to revealing ‘Red Rooster’ stands out. At Digital Tech Explorer, we remain committed to tracking the journeys of these ambitious collectives and the fascinating projects emerging from the vibrant, often tumultuous, world of independent game development, helping our readers stay ahead of the curve in tech and gaming innovation.