On the Record: Martin Luiga

The truth doesn't keep well down here."

We’re officially on the record.

On The Record is our new behind-the-scenes series exploring the minds, methods, and inspirations of the Hopetown team.

We're kicking things off with lead writer and worldbuilder Martin Luiga — whose work helped shape the unforgettable world of Disco Elysium. Martin joined the Hopetown team in early development, bringing his sharp eye for layered storytelling, twisting truths, and worlds that bend to the people who walk them.

In our conversation, Martin shares what drew him to Hopetown, the kind of players he thinks will feel most at home here, and what he hopes they'll take away when the credits roll. You'll also hear about the parts of his Disco Elysium experience that prepared him for this project, and how he approaches the art of weaving story into systems.

Martin’s work on Hopetown continues to help shape the strange, layered fabric of the town we’re building. This is a short, focused update – perfect for getting a first peek into the minds behind the game.

The Art of Getting Unstuck

When words won't come, Martin turns to collage — a cut-and-paste process that lets him build unexpected imagery and juxtapositions. These types of pieces can open doors you didn't know were there, and often spark new ways of thinking about the story.

Martin has been creating these for around 5 years and below we've shared a few of his works. Some strange, some beautiful, all brimming with the layered, surreal quality that also runs through Hopetown.

The Next Lead 

Next month we’ll be sharing our second dev blog — alongside the next interview in this series. We'll be speaking with developers, artists, writers, and more across the team. Each bringing their own angle on the world we're building. Until then, hop into the Discord and let us know:

🗨️ What you want to see in future episodes

🗨️ What stuck with you from Martin’s answers

🗨️ Or what your “I’m stuck” ritual is

Join the Discord

We are on Steam

Follow our journey on Steam. Wishlist now to receive the latest news and release updates.

Thanks again for being part of this story.

—The Hopetown Team