ZA/UM confirms key determine departures

A number of key members of ZA/UM, the studio behind the esoteric and critically acclaimed RPG Disco Elysium, have introduced that they’ve left the studio and won’t be committing additional work towards the award-winning sport’s upcoming sequel.

In a candid publish on Medium, titled “The Dissolution of the ZA/UM Cultural Affiliation”, Disco Elysium editor Martin Luiga succinctly famous that author and designer Robert Kurvitz, co-writer Helen Hindpere, and lead artist Aleksander Rostov have been all not at ZA/UM. The publish notes that the trio left the corporate in an “involuntary” trend. Rostov later confirmed the departure on their very own Twitter. Luiga notes that this movement might trigger a delay within the sequel’s launch, subtly pointing at studio buyers as doubtlessly being the catalyst for these occasions.

The information instantly set the gossip wheels in movement, with many followers upset that such core members of the Disco Elysium expertise wouldn’t be round to serve additional on the anticipated follow-up, with a be aware of anger as to the chance that the trio had been ruthlessly pushed from the corporate. This aggressive response triggered pushback from some remaining ZA/UM workers, who understandably felt that their very own contributions counted for little within the eyes of the gamers.

This morning, ZA/UM launched an official assertion, which avoids the controversy and, studying between the strains, confirms the departure of Rostov, Kurvitz, and Hindpere, while additionally expressing confidence within the studio’s remaining staff members.

“Like all online game, the event of Disco Elysium was and nonetheless is a collective effort, with each staff member’s contribution important and valued as a part of a better complete,” wrote ZA/UM. “Presently, we’ve no additional remark to make aside from the ZA/UM artistic staff’s focus stays on the event of our subsequent venture, and we’re excited to share extra information on this with you all quickly.”

Whereas it’s a truthful remark to counsel that Disco Elysium is greater than the work of simply three people, it’s all truthful to say that the idiosyncratic nature, unbelievable writing, and utterly compelling and distinctive artwork model is what made the RPG such a “yr’s greatest” launch. Does expertise stay at ZA/UM? After all it does, and certain in abundance, however has the important thing “id” of Disco Elysium been misplaced?

This query will, very possible, be answered in time, a method or one other.