- Zero Parades: For Dead Spies was released to critical acclaim, but its commercial performance has not enabled ZA/UM to sustain its current size.
- As a result of the poor commercial performance, ZA/UM has announced layoffs of up to 32 workers across all departments.
- ZA/UM stated, "We will persist", indicating that despite the layoffs, the studio intends to continue its operations.
- The layoffs represent another setback for ZA/UM, which has faced challenges including previous layoffs and internal scandals over the past four years.
- In 2022, three of the studio's founders were ousted, leading to a series of legal battles and controversies.
- The studio previously conducted layoffs in 2024, affecting up to 24 workers.
ZA/UM has laid off up to 32 employees following the disappointing commercial performance of *Zero Parades: For Dead Spies*, despite its critical acclaim. The studio stated, "While Zero Parades was released to critical acclaim, its commercial performance has not enabled us to sustain a studio of our current size."12
This decision comes as part of a broader trend of instability at ZA/UM, which has faced significant challenges over the past few years, including previous layoffs affecting up to 24 workers in 2024. The studio has been navigating a tumultuous period marked by the ousting of key creatives, including lead designer Robert Kurvitz, and ongoing legal disputes.8
The layoffs represent approximately one-third of the studio's workforce, which was around 100 employees at the time of the game's launch. The studio has been consulting with the ZA/UM Workers' Alliance during this process, indicating a commitment to support affected employees.
Despite these setbacks, ZA/UM remains resolute in its mission, asserting, "This changes the shape of ZA/UM, but not its purpose. Our artistic standards remain unchanged; we will persist." The studio's future direction remains uncertain as it grapples with the fallout from these layoffs and the challenges of sustaining its operations in a competitive market.
“The studio is consulting with its union after serving redundancy notices to 32 employees across all departments. ZA/UM appealed to other developers to hire the affected workers, as the game's theme of impossible situations mirrors the studio's own struggles after years of internal turmoil including previous layoffs and legal disputes.”
Kotaku
