ZA/UM Studio Announces Layoffs
Weak performance of Zero Parades leads to 32 employees affected.
1Layoffs Announced
ZA/UM Studio announced layoffs affecting 32 employees across all departments. The decision was attributed to the poor commercial performance of their latest game, Zero Parades: For Dead Spies. Player numbers on Steam have declined rapidly since launch.
2Zero Parades' Performance
Despite its release in May, Zero Parades: For Dead Spies failed to meet expectations. According to SteamDB, the game's peak player count was limited to 3,177. This situation threatened the studio's financial sustainability.
3Disco Elysium's Legacy
ZA/UM achieved major success with Disco Elysium in 2019. However, subsequent conflicts with the core team and intellectual property lawsuits damaged the studio's reputation. Former employees founded a new studio called Longdue.
4Employee Reactions
In response to the layoffs, discussions with the ZA/UM Workers' Alliance continue. The studio claims the process is transparent and fair, but employee concerns persist.
5Industry Trends
Recent layoffs in the video game industry are drawing attention. ZA/UM's decision is seen as a reflection of financial instability in the sector. Other studios are taking similar steps.
6Future Projects
ZA/UM has stated its intention to continue future projects. However, the impact of layoffs on creative processes remains a question. The studio's long-term strategy remains uncertain for now.