ZA/UM Studio, the developer behind the acclaimed narrative RPG Disco Elysium, has announced layoffs impacting up to 32 employees. The studio stated that despite critical success for its latest game, "Zero Parades: For Dead Spies," insufficient sales have made the cuts necessary. The studio is working with its labor union to manage the redundancy process.
This marks a significant setback for ZA/UM, a studio that has faced considerable turmoil over the past four years. In 2022, three of its founding members—Robert Kurvitz, Aleksander Rostov, and Helen Hindpere—departed under contentious circumstances, alleging they were removed "involuntarily" by the remaining leadership. This led to a legal dispute where the founders sued ZA/UM over an alleged illegal acquisition of a majority share in the studio. ZA/UM, in turn, accused the founders of fostering a toxic work environment and attempting to illegally sell intellectual property.
The fallout from these internal conflicts saw numerous projects canceled. Several former creators left ZA/UM to establish independent studios, aiming to create games that would follow in the footsteps of Disco Elysium. While "Zero Parades: For Dead Spies" was one such attempt, its critical reception has now been overshadowed by the financial difficulties leading to these layoffs. The situation presents an unfortunate irony, given that "Zero Parades" reportedly explores themes of individuals forced to confront impossible circumstances.