ZA/UM to Lay Off 32 Staff Members

ZA/UM to Lay Off 32 staff members

in latest studio reduction

ZA/UM is cutting 32 staff. But the studio is trying to reconcile its current financial standing with the commercial performance of its recent title, and this announcement made through official channels on Friday afternoon marks another major shift for the developer. It's a move that impacts departments across the entire organization.

Commercial realities force difficult decisions

The core issue rests on sales figures for Zero Parades: For Dead Spies. That's it. The title arrived to critical acclaim just two months ago, but the studio claims the revenue generated is insufficient to maintain its current headcount, and the developer previously operated with a workforce of approximately 100 people as of October 2025. That figure is now poised to shrink by nearly a third.

Management stated the decision reflects a need to adjust the company's shape. But they maintain their artistic standards won't change. The internal atmosphere remains charged. The studio confirmed it has worked alongside representatives of the ZA/UM Workers Alliance throughout the process of issuing redundancy and at-risk notices, a collaboration that highlights the tension between corporate restructuring and creative integrity.

A history defined by public friction

This developer is no stranger to controversy. But since the 2019 release of Disco Elysium, it's been locked in a cycle of legal disputes and public accusations. High-profile figures like former game director Robert Kurvitz and art director Aleksander Rostov have previously alleged that management, specifically Ilmar Kompus and Tõnis Haavel, seized control of the studio and its intellectual property through fraudulent means. It's a messy situation.

These accusations were met with firm denials. But Kompas and Haavel countered with their own claims, alleging that the former employees neglected their duties for two years and attempted to illegally sell studio assets to competitors. It's been chaotic. Multiple studios founded by former staff members have also found themselves embroiled in their own separate disputes, so the legal environment is messy and they're stuck fighting multiple battles.

Lingering internal struggles

• The studio previously laid off 24 employees in 2024.
• A spin-off project based on Disco Elysium was cancelled during the 2024 restructuring.
• The studio is currently dealing with fallout from prior allegations of crunch and burnout.

Public reaction remains sharply divided

Social media sentiment toward the news is largely negative. It's an ugly irony. Critics point to the studio known for anti-capitalist themes now engaging in repeated rounds of staff reductions, and one user named Eimmy expressed frustration on Bluesky by noting that the brand has been poisoned for many fans. But this reflects a wider distrust that's shadowed the studio for years.

I feel terrible for the workers, especially since gamedev is absolute shit rn (I'm not coming back unless I absolutely have to). They deserve a safe and rewarding job. Unfortunately Zaum is not that place and it will fall sooner or later, since they poisoned the brand for [the] majority of fans.

The feedback loop is restricted. The studio has disabled replies on its announcements, and this decision appears to be a direct response to the intense hostility directed toward them, so the current situation leaves the future of the remaining staff and the studio itself in a precarious position.

What happens to those leaving

Management has publicly encouraged other studios to consider hiring the departing employees. They frame the departure as a necessary step for survival. But this creative success has not insulated the staff from the cold reality of shifting commercial requirements, despite the high praise for their latest project and the team's ability to weave bristling reactivity into a living, breathing story. It's a tough road ahead.

The studio intends to persist with its mission. But it's uncertain whether they can stabilize operations after this latest round of cuts, as the ongoing conflict between former leadership and current ownership continues to overshadow actual game development output. So now, the focus shifts to the 32 individuals facing the end of their tenure.