Disco Elysium Developer ZA/UM Lays Off Up to 32 Staff Members

ZA/UM, the studio behind Disco Elysium, has announced layoffs affecting up to 32 employees, just two months after the release of its latest game, Zero Parades: For Dead Spies. In a statement on X/Twitter, the UK-based studio explained that despite the game receiving critical acclaim in May, its commercial performance has not been sufficient to maintain the current team size. The studio confirmed that redundancy or at-risk notices have been issued to up to 32 staff across all departments, acknowledging their contributions to Zero Parades: For Dead Spies and the studio. ZA/UM stated it will continue to consult with its Workers' Alliance union throughout the process, emphasizing that while the layoffs will change the studio's shape, they will not alter its purpose. The studio also appealed to employers to consider hiring the departing staff. This is not ZA/UM's first round of layoffs; in 2024, approximately 24 employees were let go, and a standalone Disco Elysium expansion was canceled. The studio has been embroiled in controversy since 2022, when key developers like Robert Kurvitz, Helen Hindpere, and Aleksander Rostov allegedly left involuntarily, leading to lawsuits and the emergence of spinoff studios. Disco Elysium earned multiple awards at The Game Awards 2019 and an IGN 9.6/10 review, while Zero Parades: For Dead Spies holds an 83 on Metacritic.