The Development of Murder Book: From Zagreb to Release

A verified timeline of Murder Book's development, updated as new milestones are confirmed.

By Murder Book Editorial TeamPublished by Gungrounds, the studio making Murder BookPublished 16 September 2026Updated 16 September 2026

Murder Book is being developed by Gungrounds, an independent studio in Zagreb, Croatia. Its public milestones so far:

2023: selected in the European Union's Creative Europe MEDIA call for video game development.
2025: development support from the Croatian Audiovisual Centre (HAVC), and a listing in HAVC's Games Croatia brochure.
May 2026: presented at the Creative Europe MEDIA stand during the Marché du Film at the Cannes Film Festival.

The game is still in development, with release currently planned for the end of Q2 2027 on PC (Steam) and mobile. This page records verified milestones only and is updated as new ones are confirmed.

Key takeaways

Murder Book is developed by Gungrounds (Macanga Games), founded in Zagreb in 2016.
The project was selected in Creative Europe MEDIA's 2023 video game development call.
HAVC supported its development and lists it among projects supported for development in 2025.
It was presented at the Marché du Film in Cannes in May 2026.
Release is currently planned for the end of Q2 2027.

Murder Book development timeline

Date	Milestone	Source
2016	Gungrounds is founded in Zagreb, Croatia	Gungrounds website
2023	Murder Book is listed in the results of Creative Europe MEDIA's call for the development of video games and immersive content	Creative Europe results document
2025	Murder Book: The Art of Interrogation is listed among projects supported for development by HAVC	Games Croatia 2025–2026 brochure
20 April 2026	HAVC announces that Murder Book has been selected for the Creative Europe MEDIA stand at the Marché du Film	HAVC news
12–20 May 2026	Murder Book is presented at the Marché du Film during the 79th Cannes Film Festival	HAVC news
End of Q2 2027 (planned)	Planned release on PC (Steam) and mobile	Gungrounds

Where did Murder Book start?

Murder Book comes from Gungrounds, a studio founded in Zagreb in 2016. Gungrounds began by developing and porting Flash games for clients such as Armor Games, Newgrounds and Kongregate. It went on to create original titles, including Serious Sam: Tormental, and to work with companies including Devolver Digital and Croteam.

Murder Book is a change of pace from that action-focused history. The studio's press materials describe it as "a narrative-driven interrogation game inspired by real police footage and psychological breakdowns," with cases designed for 5–10-minute sessions.

How did Creative Europe MEDIA support Murder Book?

Creative Europe MEDIA is the European Union programme that supports the audiovisual sector, including the development of video games. Murder Book appears in the published results of its 2023 call for the development of video games and immersive content, listed under the studio's company name, Macanga Games, in Croatia. The Gungrounds website lists the project as "Co-funded by Creative Europe MEDIA 2023."

How did HAVC support Murder Book?

The Croatian Audiovisual Centre (HAVC) supports film, audiovisual and video game production in Croatia. HAVC's Games Croatia 2025–2026 brochure lists Murder Book: The Art of Interrogation among projects supported for development in 2025. HAVC's April 2026 announcement also notes that the project's development was supported by HAVC.

Why was Murder Book at Cannes?

On 20 April 2026, HAVC announced that Murder Book had been selected to take part at the Creative Europe MEDIA stand at the Marché du Film, the film market held alongside the Cannes Film Festival. The market ran from 12 to 20 May 2026. The HAVC announcement names Kristian Macanga, founder and director of the studio, together with game designer Matija Vigato and screenwriter Siniša Bahun.

For a narrative game built around interrogation and storytelling, a film market is a natural place to meet partners interested in the space between games and screen storytelling.

What has been shown of the game so far?

Gungrounds' official press kit includes development screenshots of the interrogation scene, an in-game casebook of suspect behaviours, an evidence board, a technique menu, case selection and a branching case map. These are development builds, so details may change before release. For a walkthrough of what they show, read How Murder Book Turns Interrogation Into Gameplay.

What happens next?

Murder Book remains in development. Upcoming milestones such as a public Steam page, trailer, demo or release date will be added to this timeline once they are officially announced. Until then, the Murder Book release and development FAQ collects the current confirmed details, and Meet the Team Behind Murder Book introduces the people making it.