After the release of Zero Parades: For Dead Spies, 32 employees at ZA/UM have been laid off

The video game developer ZA/UM has laid off 32 employees from various departments. This decision was shared by the Disco Elysium team on social media, citing that the commercial results of their recent game, Zero Parades: For Dead Spies, did not support the company's current staff size.

The announcement stated, "The changes in ZA/UM's structure do not alter its mission. We will uphold our creative values and continue our work."

The redundancy process involved dialogue with representatives from the ZA/UM Workers' Alliance. Employees in the UK formed this union last year under the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB).

Poppy Ingham, the marketing manager, told GamesIndustry.biz, "We want to protect our legal interests but mostly aim to foster a collaborative environment between employees and management. We are committed to being a part of this team and seek greater involvement in significant managerial discussions."

Ingham also mentioned that their meetings are accessible to colleagues who work from other locations such as Porto or Tallinn. Although legal protections are specific to UK workers, the alliance invites global contributions.

Previously, in 2024, ZA/UM experienced layoffs after discontinuing three projects, including a sequel and an expansion for Disco Elysium, affecting roughly 20 staff members.

Ed Tomaszewski, the president of ZA/UM, explained that after stopping the first two projects, personnel were reallocated. However, ending the Disco Elysium expansion led to further layoffs.

Tomaszewski remarked, "The limitations of operating as an independent studio became clear, necessitating difficult choices despite the enthusiasm generated by Disco Elysium's achievement. The team realized the necessity of prioritizing realistic goals while navigating these challenges."