ZA/UM Faces Tough Times with Layoffs Impacting 32 Staff Members
In a rather unfortunate turn of events, ZA/UM, the talented studio behind the acclaimed game Disco Elysium, has revealed that it will be laying off up to 32 employees. This news comes just a couple of months after the launch of their latest title, Zero Parades: For Dead Spies, which was met with positive reviews.
The UK-based developer shared this update on their social media, explaining that even though their new game received praise, it hasn’t performed commercially as expected, making it difficult to maintain the current team size. They stated, “We have served redundancy or at-risk notices impacting up to 32 of our colleagues across all departments at ZA/UM Studio.” The studio expressed gratitude for the contributions of those affected, highlighting that their work has made a significant impact on both the game and the studio as a whole.
As the studio navigates these challenging times, they assured their commitment to consulting with the Workers’ Alliance union to ensure a smooth process for everyone involved. They emphasized that while the layoffs may reshape the studio, their dedication to maintaining high artistic standards will remain intact.
The situation at ZA/UM has been tumultuous over the past few years, especially after the exit of several key developers in late 2022, leading to a series of legal disputes involving claims of fraud related to the studio’s ownership. This backdrop of controversy has also seen the emergence of spin-off studios featuring former ZA/UM developers, such as Dark Math Games and Longdue Games.
Previously, in 2024, the studio faced another round of layoffs affecting around 24 employees, alongside the cancellation of a planned standalone expansion for Disco Elysium. Despite the ups and downs, Disco Elysium remains a celebrated title, winning numerous awards and achieving high scores from critics upon its release.
While Zero Parades: For Dead Spies may not have reached the heights of its predecessor, it still managed an impressive score on Metacritic. As ZA/UM moves forward, the gaming community will be watching closely to see how this storied studio evolves amid its current challenges.