The Studio That (Technically) Made Disco Elysium Just Dropped A Trailer For Its New Game

At a glance:

• ZA/UM Studio, creators of Disco Elysium, has released the first trailer for their new game Zero Parades: For Dead Spies, a psychedelic espionage RPG with a unique scrapbook visual style.
• The game will launch on PC on May 21 for $40 across Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG, with PS5 coming later this year.
• This release comes after ZA/UM lost its core creative team in 2022, including creator Robert Kurvitz, art director Aleksander Rostov, and writer Helen Hindpere, amid controversy and lawsuits.

The New Game Announcement

ZA/UM Studio, the company behind the critically acclaimed Disco Elysium, has just dropped a trailer for its upcoming RPG Zero Parades: For Dead Spies. This marks the first real footage we've seen of the game, though a mysterious teaser was released last year when it was still being referred to as Project C4. The announcement came as something of a shadow drop, with the studio revealing that Zero Parades will be available for PC on May 21 – just two weeks from now. The game is described as a "psychedelic espionage RPG" that maintains the highly stylized approach of Disco Elysium while introducing a unique scrapbook-esque visual style that sets it apart from other titles in the genre.

Visual Style and Gameplay

Zero Parades: For Dead Spies appears to continue ZA/UM's tradition of narrative-rich RPG experiences while shifting the focus to espionage themes. The trailer reveals a game that maintains the studio's distinctive artistic sensibility while exploring new territory. The "scrapbook" visual style suggests a more fragmented, collage-like approach to storytelling and world-building, potentially mirroring the complex narrative structures and psychological depth that made Disco Elysium stand out. While the exact gameplay mechanics haven't been fully detailed, the espionage focus suggests players can expect intricate spy mechanics, complex character interactions, and the kind of deep philosophical questions that characterized ZA/UM's previous work.

The Studio's Turbulent History

This release comes at a particularly tumultuous time for ZA/UM Studio, which has undergone significant changes since the success of Disco Elysium. In 2022, the studio lost its core creative team when creator Robert Kurvitz, art director Aleksander Rostov, and writer Helen Hindpere were fired by the company's new executive suite. The trio was accused of misconduct and attempted intellectual property theft, though they refuted these claims in an open letter. Kurvitz had written the novel that formed the basis for Disco Elysium, making his departure particularly significant for the studio's creative direction.

Legal Battles and Controversy

The firings led to legal battles and public controversy surrounding ZA/UM's leadership. Kurvitz and Rostov alleged they were fired due to an investigation surrounding the takeover of ZA/UM by Estonian businessmen Ilmar Kompus and Tõnis Haavel. These individuals had previously been convicted of investment fraud and were accused of creating a hostile work environment for women at the studio. "I know at least five women who've left or been made to leave the studio since Disco's launch, naming Tõnis Haavel as a major factor. There are zero women in creative leadership and very few women in leadership positions in general," a former writer for Disco Elysium told PC Gamer. These allegations paint a picture of a studio in turmoil, raising questions about how the remaining team has been able to continue developing new projects.

The Post-Disco Elysium Landscape

The departure of ZA/UM's core team has created a fractured landscape for fans of the studio's work. Kurvitz and Rostov set up their own company to continue their vision, while other former employees formed Longdue, which is currently developing Hopetown – a spiritual successor to Disco Elysium. Hopetown has been in development for some time with limited public updates, leaving fans to wonder how closely it will capture the magic of the original. Meanwhile, ZA/UM Studio has continued with new leadership, though the question of whether they can maintain the creative spark that made Disco Elysium a critical darling remains to be seen.

What to Expect from Zero Parades

With Zero Parades: For Dead Spies launching in just two weeks, players and critics will have a chance to evaluate whether ZA/UM can deliver compelling content without its original creative leadership. The game will be available to download from Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG for $40, with PS5 players waiting until later in the year for their version. Given the studio's history and the talent that has departed, this release represents a significant moment for ZA/UM – a chance to prove that the studio can evolve and create meaningful experiences even after losing the team that brought them initial success. Whether Zero Parades can capture the same narrative depth and innovative gameplay as Disco Elysium remains to be seen, but the unique visual style and espionage theme suggest it will at least offer a distinctive experience in the RPG landscape.