ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies Demo Now Available During Steam Next Fest

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After giving away more than 4,000 keys over the weekend and getting really positive first feedback from players, we’re launching the Steam Next Fest demo of ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies today - free for everyone!

From the creators of Disco Elysium comes a new espionage RPG - ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies - and now you can try it out in a free demo during Steam Next Fest. Get a first peek and play the opening hours until March 16th.

Tallinn, Estonia - February 23, 2026 - Step into the world of lies and spycraft: ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies, the new espionage RPG from the creators of Disco Elysium, launches its free demo today as part of Steam Next Fest.



Play it now on Steam

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2863 ... ead_Spies/

ZERO PARADES tells an intense, dialogue-driven story about Hershel Wilk - codenamed CASCADE - in the city-state of Portofiro. Chewed out by the Operant Bureau for miserably failing a mission five years ago, she is pulled back ‘in theatre’ for one last mysterious assignment.
What’s in the demo?

The demo features a tailored version of the opening hours of ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies. It showcases how the game looks, plays and feels but doesn’t spoil all options from the full game. Some content and mechanics, including Conditioning and the progression system, are reserved for release, and some balancing and dialogue branching have been adjusted for the demo.

There are two main quests and various side activities to explore, and players will be able to dip into the backstories of a few Portofirans - offering an extended first look. A full FAQ can be found on zeroparades.com.
Your sanity is optional

One of the core systems of ZERO PARADES is keeping Fatigue, Anxiety and Delirium balanced. For being ‘in theatre’, Hershel must live with them - and even use them as a system. Each decision in dialogues can tip them up or down. However, if she maxes out on one players have to permanently lower a skill.

But there’s an upside to losing one’s sanity. With Exertion, players can deliberately choose to tank one of the three vitals to add a die in skill checks. So it’s all about constantly balancing Hershel’s mental state - keeping the vitals in check to push her to the limit when the mission's success is on the line.

The demo is available for a limited time only during Steam Next Fest, from February 23 to March 16, 2026. ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies will launch on PC (Steam, GOG, Epic) before coming to PlayStation®5 (PS5®) later in 2026 - wishlist it now on Steam. And if you’re craving more storytelling, Disco Elysium - The Final Cut is 75% off during Steam Next Fest until March 9th.

To learn more about ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies, head to zeroparades.com or follow us on YouTube, Tik Tok, Instagram, X or Bluesky. You can also listen to the devs discussing ZERO PARADES in IMPRINT - a ZA/UM Studio Devcast available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify and Acast.

About ZA/UM Studio
Founded in 2015, ZA/UM Studio is an independent studio best known for its award-winning RPG Disco Elysium. With offices in Tallinn, London, and Porto, our team continues to honour its roots as a creative collective of sculptors, designers, painters, writers, engineers, and producers who happen to double as psychological moles. We love nothing more than to use the tools of our crafts to delve deeply into player psyches.