Disco Elysium Dev ZA/UM Announces Layoffs Affecting Up to 32 Staff
News Source
β’Sat, 18 Jul 2026 16:52:24 +0000
π° What Happened
ZA/UM, the studio behind the critically acclaimed RPG 'Disco Elysium,' has announced layoffs affecting up to 32 staff members. The studio confirmed the job cuts in a statement, saying they were part of a restructuring to focus on future projects. The layoffs represent a significant portion of the studio's workforce.
'Disco Elysium' was released in 2019 and won multiple Game of the Year awards for its innovative storytelling and deep role-playing mechanics. Fans have been eagerly awaiting the studio's next project. The layoffs have raised concerns about the future of the studio and its upcoming games.
π The Backstory
ZA/UM has a complicated history. The studio was founded in Estonia by a group of writers and artists. 'Disco Elysium' was their first game and became an instant classic. However, the studio was later rocked by legal disputes and leadership changes. The original creative leads, including writer Robert Kurvitz and artist Aleksander Rostov, left the company after a bitter ownership battle.
Since then, ZA/UM has been working on new projects, including a spiritual successor and other unannounced titles. The layoffs suggest the studio is struggling to find its footing after losing its original creative team. The video game industry has seen widespread layoffs in 2025 and 2026, with many studios cutting staff after years of over-hiring during the pandemic boom.
π― Why It Matters
ZA/UM made one of the best games of the last decade. If the studio collapses, it would be a huge loss for creative gaming. It also shows how creative talent and business interests often clash in the game industry.
ZA/UM, the studio behind the critically acclaimed RPG 'Disco Elysium,' has announced layoffs affecting up to 32 staff members. The studio confirmed the job cuts in a statement, saying they were part of a restructuring to focus on future projects. The layoffs represent a significant portion of the studio's workforce.
'Disco Elysium' was released in 2019 and won multiple Game of the Year awards for its innovative storytelling and deep role-playing mechanics. Fans have been eagerly awaiting the studio's next project. The layoffs have raised concerns about the future of the studio and its upcoming games.
ZA/UM has a complicated history. The studio was founded in Estonia by a group of writers and artists. 'Disco Elysium' was their first game and became an instant classic. However, the studio was later rocked by legal disputes and leadership changes. The original creative leads, including writer Robert Kurvitz and artist Aleksander Rostov, left the company after a bitter ownership battle.
Since then, ZA/UM has been working on new projects, including a spiritual successor and other unannounced titles. The layoffs suggest the studio is struggling to find its footing after losing its original creative team. The video game industry has seen widespread layoffs in 2025 and 2026, with many studios cutting staff after years of over-hiring during the pandemic boom.
ZA/UM made one of the best games of the last decade. If the studio collapses, it would be a huge loss for creative gaming. It also shows how creative talent and business interests often clash in the game industry.