Just two months after launching Zero Parades: For Dead Spies, Studio ZA/UM has confirmed a new round of layoffs, citing disappointing sales despite the game’s positive critical reception.
The decision affects up to 32 employees across multiple departments, marking another difficult chapter for the developer behind the acclaimed RPG Disco Elysium.
The announcement has also reignited discussion about the studio’s turbulent history following the departure of several key Disco Elysium creators in recent years.
ZA/UM says Zero Parades did not meet commercial expectations
In a statement shared on the studio’s official social media channels, Studio ZA/UM explained that while Zero Parades: For Dead Spies was well received by critics, its financial performance failed to meet the studio’s expectations.
“While Zero Parades: For Dead Spies was released to critical acclaim, its commercial performance has not enabled us to sustain a studio of our current size.”
The company confirmed that up to 32 employees have received redundancy or at-risk notices across all departments. ZA/UM also thanked the affected staff, stating that their work “made a lasting difference” to both Zero Parades and the studio as a whole.
Layoffs revive debate over Studio ZA/UM’s future
The layoffs have prompted renewed discussion about Studio ZA/UM’s leadership and the challenges it has faced since the release of Disco Elysium. In recent years, several of the original creative leads behind the award-winning RPG left the company following highly publicized disputes, leading to criticism from parts of the game’s fanbase.
Before Zero Parades launched, many industry observers questioned whether the new project could overcome that controversy. While the game received praise for its writing, art direction, and atmosphere, reviews were more divided than those for Disco Elysium, with some critics arguing that its espionage-focused narrative failed to match the impact of its predecessor.
Social media reactions to the layoffs have reflected those long-running concerns. While many fans expressed sympathy for the employees losing their jobs, others suggested the studio’s leadership and previous internal conflicts contributed to the game’s weaker commercial performance.
It remains unclear whether Studio ZA/UM plans further restructuring, but the company has not announced any changes to its future development roadmap.
