Za/um studio slashes workforce amidst controversy and shifting priorities
Barcelona – ZA/UM Studio, the developers behind the critically acclaimed Disco Elysium, have announced a significant restructuring, laying off up to 32 employees just two months after releasing their latest title, Zero Parades: For Dead Spies. The move underscores a turbulent period for the studio, marked by legal battles and internal strife.
A critical cut amidst shifting sands
The studio’s official statement, posted on X/Twitter, cites ‘commercial performance’ as the primary driver behind the redundancies, admitting that the success of Disco Elysium hasn’t translated into sustained operational viability. ‘We have served redundancy or at-risk notices impacting up to 32 of our colleagues across all departments,’ the message read, adding a somber acknowledgement of the departing staff’s ‘lasting difference’ to both Zero Parades and the studio itself. But the story runs deeper than simple financial headwinds; whispers of a protracted internal struggle have long shadowed the company.
Just weeks before the announcement, allegations of corporate control – spearheaded by Robert Kurvitz, Helen Hindpere, and Aleksander Rostov – surfaced, alleging that Ilmar Kompus and Tõnis Haavel of Tütreke OÜ had seized control through ‘fraud.’ While ZA/UM vehemently denied these claims, the events cast a long shadow, fueling speculation and contributing to a climate of uncertainty. The studio’s response, accusing the alleged perpetrators, only served to deepen the existing narrative of discord.
The layoffs follow a previous reduction in staff back in 2024, impacting approximately 24 employees and simultaneously halting development on a planned Disco Elysium expansion. The timing is particularly poignant considering the game’s initial reception – a runaway success that garnered numerous awards, including multiple Game Awards wins and a glowing 9.6/10 review from IGN – juxtaposed against the underwhelming commercial performance of Zero Parades, which earned an 83 on Metacritic.
But perhaps the most telling detail is the studio’s continued engagement with the Workers’ Alliance union. ‘We will continue to consult and work with members of our Workers’ Alliance union throughout the difficult process,’ the statement declared, suggesting a recognition of the complex dynamics at play. ZA/UM insists that ‘the shape of ZA/UM, but not its purpose’ will remain unchanged, proclaiming ‘our artistic standards remain unchanged: we will persist.’ It’s a defiant assertion, bordering on the desperate.
Meanwhile, the fallout from ZA/UM’s turmoil has spawned new studios – Dark Math Games and Longdue Games – each carrying forward the legacy of its former colleagues. Projects like XXX Nightshift and Hopetown represent a tangible consequence of the studio’s instability. Michael Cripe, a freelance writer for IGN, notes that ‘the 2020s have been rough for ZA/UM,’ a sentiment echoed by the trajectory of the studio itself. The company’s future, once brimming with potential, now hangs precariously in the balance – a stark reminder that even critical acclaim doesn’t guarantee long-term survival in a relentlessly competitive industry.