In a recent social media announcement, ZA/UM disclosed that it has issued redundancy or at‑risk notices affecting up to 32 employees across all departments, and that it is collaborating with the studio’s labor union to manage the transition.
This round of layoffs compounds a four‑year period of turbulence for ZA/UM, marked by repeated staff reductions and public controversy. In 2022, three founding members—Robert Kurvitz, Aleksander Rostov, and Helen Hindpere—announced their involuntary departures, a move the remaining leadership allegedly attempted to conceal.
Kurvitz and Rostov countered by filing a lawsuit alleging that ZA/UM unlawfully acquired a controlling stake in the company, sparking a protracted legal battle that was settled after a year. Meanwhile, ZA/UM maintained that the founders were dismissed for cultivating a toxic workplace, and that Kurvitz had also attempted to illicitly market the studio’s intellectual property.
Watching the studio behind one of the most celebrated narrative titles unravel as it teetered on the brink of a sequel was both chaotic and disheartening. Since the debut of Disco Elysium, ZA/UM has repeatedly shelved projects, driving a growing number of its talent to depart and establish three new ventures, each aiming to deliver a worthy successor. To date, only Zero Parades has seen the light of day, and its achievement has been marred by recent layoffs—a bitter twist when you consider the game’s core message.
The situation takes on an even more poignant tone, as the game’s central motif mirrors the very struggle players now face—a scenario that feels unwinnable.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why did ZA/UM announce layoffs despite the critical success of Disco Elysium?
Although Disco Elysium received widespread acclaim, its sales did not generate enough revenue to sustain the studio’s operating costs. The company has faced a series of financial pressures, including high development expenses and a competitive market that rewards commercial performance as much as artistic merit. As a result, ZA/UM had to reduce staff to align its budget with actual income.
How many employees were affected by the layoffs and what support is being offered to them?
The announcement states that up to 32 employees across all departments have received redundancy or at‑risk notices. ZA/UM is working with its labor union to manage the transition, offering severance packages, outplacement assistance, and continued access to certain benefits for those impacted.
What legal disputes have involved ZA/UM’s founding members, and how were they resolved?
In 2022, three founding members—Robert Kurvitz, Aleksander Rostov, and Helen Hindpere—were involuntarily dismissed. Kurvitz and Rostov filed a lawsuit alleging that ZA/UM unlawfully acquired a controlling stake in the company. The dispute escalated into a protracted legal battle, but it was settled after a year, with the studio maintaining that the founders were dismissed for creating a toxic workplace and for alleged attempts to market the studio’s intellectual property illegally.
News Source: Kotaku
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