In a significant development within the gaming industry, Argo Tuulik, the writer behind the acclaimed Disco Elysium and co-founder of the new RPG studio Summer Eternal, finds himself embroiled in a legal dispute with Riaz Moola, founder of rival studio Longdue. The situation escalated when an injunction was granted, preventing Tuulik from engaging in any work related to Summer Eternal until April 2025.
Legal Proceedings and Statements
Tuulik took to X to share the news, stating, “Got some news. [CoGrammar] on behalf of Longdue and Riaz Moola has taken me to court and was granted an injunction against me.” This legal action follows Tuulik’s departure from ZA/UM, where he was laid off amid the cancellation of a standalone expansion for Disco Elysium. Tuulik and his colleagues at ZA/UM have raised concerns about the mismanagement of the project, citing the omission of a standard preproduction phase.
Meanwhile, Moola has emerged as a notable figure in the ongoing narrative surrounding the post-Disco Elysium landscape. A recognized entrepreneur, Moola is not only the chairman and investor of Longdue but also a member of the Forbes 30-under-30 list. Longdue is currently developing a game inspired by Disco Elysium, featuring a team that includes unidentified former ZA/UM developers.
Adding to the complexity, Moola has previously reached out under a Dark Math Games email address, identifying himself as a co-founder of yet another studio that claims to be working on a spiritual successor to Disco Elysium. Dark Math announced its project, titled XXX Nightshift, on the same day as both Longdue and Summer Eternal.
In response to Tuulik’s public comments, Longdue issued a statement clarifying their position. They confirmed that an independent judge ruled in their favor during a court hearing over a week ago. The statement emphasized their attempts to resolve the matter privately, expressing disappointment over Tuulik’s alleged breach of agreements made prior to his departure from Longdue.
Longdue’s statement articulated their commitment to integrity and the importance of honoring agreements, noting that their efforts to settle matters amicably had been consistently rebuffed by Tuulik. They expressed regret over the necessity of legal action, stating, “We did not want to take legal action and we did not want this to become public for the sake of everyone involved.” The studio reaffirmed its dedication to fostering a collaborative environment among RPG developers inspired by narrative-rich games.
As the situation unfolds, the exact nature of the disagreements between the parties remains murky. This dispute echoes the earlier conflicts that led to the fragmentation of ZA/UM back in 2021, raising questions about the future of the studios involved and their ability to honor the legacy of Disco Elysium.
A Forbes 30-under-30-er involved in at least 2 Disco Elysium successor studios has sued the lead dev at a third, blocking him from working on a new game
In a significant development within the gaming industry, Argo Tuulik, the writer behind the acclaimed Disco Elysium and co-founder of the new RPG studio Summer Eternal, finds himself embroiled in a legal dispute with Riaz Moola, founder of rival studio Longdue. The situation escalated when an injunction was granted, preventing Tuulik from engaging in any work related to Summer Eternal until April 2025.
Legal Proceedings and Statements
Tuulik took to X to share the news, stating, “Got some news. [CoGrammar] on behalf of Longdue and Riaz Moola has taken me to court and was granted an injunction against me.” This legal action follows Tuulik’s departure from ZA/UM, where he was laid off amid the cancellation of a standalone expansion for Disco Elysium. Tuulik and his colleagues at ZA/UM have raised concerns about the mismanagement of the project, citing the omission of a standard preproduction phase.
Meanwhile, Moola has emerged as a notable figure in the ongoing narrative surrounding the post-Disco Elysium landscape. A recognized entrepreneur, Moola is not only the chairman and investor of Longdue but also a member of the Forbes 30-under-30 list. Longdue is currently developing a game inspired by Disco Elysium, featuring a team that includes unidentified former ZA/UM developers.
Adding to the complexity, Moola has previously reached out under a Dark Math Games email address, identifying himself as a co-founder of yet another studio that claims to be working on a spiritual successor to Disco Elysium. Dark Math announced its project, titled XXX Nightshift, on the same day as both Longdue and Summer Eternal.
In response to Tuulik’s public comments, Longdue issued a statement clarifying their position. They confirmed that an independent judge ruled in their favor during a court hearing over a week ago. The statement emphasized their attempts to resolve the matter privately, expressing disappointment over Tuulik’s alleged breach of agreements made prior to his departure from Longdue.
Longdue’s statement articulated their commitment to integrity and the importance of honoring agreements, noting that their efforts to settle matters amicably had been consistently rebuffed by Tuulik. They expressed regret over the necessity of legal action, stating, “We did not want to take legal action and we did not want this to become public for the sake of everyone involved.” The studio reaffirmed its dedication to fostering a collaborative environment among RPG developers inspired by narrative-rich games.
As the situation unfolds, the exact nature of the disagreements between the parties remains murky. This dispute echoes the earlier conflicts that led to the fragmentation of ZA/UM back in 2021, raising questions about the future of the studios involved and their ability to honor the legacy of Disco Elysium.