● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportMedium impact
ZA/UM Studio lays off 32 employees after weak game performance
Key points
- 32 employees laid off at ZA/UM Studio
- Layoffs attributed to weak sales of Zero Parades
- Game peaked at 3,177 players post-launch but declined sharply
Overview of the Layoffs
ZA/UM Studio, known for Disco Elysium, announced layoffs affecting up to 32 employees across all departments. This decision follows the recent release of its espionage RPG, Zero Parades: For Dead Spies, which failed to generate expected commercial success.
Reasons for the Layoffs
The layoffs stem from the weak commercial performance of Zero Parades, which did not enable the studio to sustain its workforce size. SteamDB data indicates that the game reached a peak of 3,177 players shortly after its May launch but has seen a significant decline in player engagement since.
Background Context
ZA/UM Studio experienced turmoil following the success of Disco Elysium. Notable events included the firing of the core development team and ongoing legal disputes over intellectual property. These conflicts have likely contributed to a challenging environment for the studio.
Future Steps
Despite the layoffs, ZA/UM Studio maintains communication with the ZA/UM Workers' Alliance representatives. The studio's strategic direction following these layoffs will be critical in determining its future in the increasingly competitive gaming market.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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Reporting from
ZA/UM Studio has laid off up to 32 employees following poor sales of its game Zero Parades. The studio cited insufficient commercial performance as the reason for the layoffs, which affects staff across all departments.