ZA/UM Studio Faces Layoffs After Mixed Reception of Zero Parades: Fans React

ZA/UM, the studio behind the acclaimed Disco Elysium, is making some tough decisions as it announced it will be laying off around 32 employees. This news comes on the heels of their latest RPG, Zero Parades: For Dead Spies, not performing as expected in terms of sales.

Fans of Disco Elysium, which was released back in 2019 and quickly won hearts, were not entirely taken aback by this announcement. One user shared their thoughts on Bluesky, saying, “Talented passionate workers, evil inept ownership,” reflecting the frustration many feel towards the studio’s management issues.

Since the launch of Disco Elysium, ZA/UM has faced a string of unfortunate events. They controversially canceled a sequel in 2022 and scrapped various Disco-related projects amid internal conflicts, lawsuits, and an alleged hostile takeover led by CEO Ilmar Kompus. Studio founder Robert Kurvitz even accused him of fraud, adding to the chaos.

In 2024, the studio had already experienced mass layoffs, and many original developers have since ventured off to establish new studios, all trying to capture the spirit of Disco Elysium in their own unique ways.

Despite the turmoil, Zero Parades is considered a decent game. Our review gave it three and a half stars out of five, noting it still exudes “some of the old charm” from Disco Elysium. However, the studio admitted in its layoff announcement that the game’s commercial success didn’t allow them to keep the current team size intact.

In their statement, ZA/UM mentioned they are cooperating with representatives from the ZA/UM Workers’ Alliance and emphasized that while the layoffs may change the studio’s structure, their commitment to artistic integrity remains firm. “Our artistic standards remain unchanged: we will persist,” they concluded.

However, the loyalty of their earliest fans appears to be wavering. While Zero Parades offers a more accessible RPG experience compared to Disco Elysium, many are left questioning the future of the beloved studio and its offerings.