A masterpiece, and its developers are going bankrupt

When Disco Elysium arrived, few expected that a small independent studio could create an RPG capable of standing alongside the biggest names in the genre. Its incredible writing, complex characters, and freedom of choice turned it into one of the most celebrated role-playing games of the last decade. That success created enormous expectations for ZA/UM's next project, Zero Parades: For Dead Spies.

The new RPG managed to impress critics, receiving positive reviews for its narrative, atmosphere, and ambitious approach. However, that praise has not been enough to translate into the sales needed to keep the studio operating at its previous size.

Shortly after launch, ZA/UM announced a new round of layoffs affecting around 32 employees, showing once again that critical success and commercial success do not always go hand in hand.

The situation represents another difficult moment for a studio that has already experienced years of turbulence.

After the massive success of Disco Elysium, ZA/UM became involved in a highly publicized conflict involving the departure of several original creators, followed by legal disputes and internal problems that affected the company's reputation among some fans.

Despite those controversies, Zero Parades arrived with a strong reception from reviewers. Many praised the game's detailed world, dialogue system, and the way it approaches espionage through traditional RPG mechanics. For many players, it was proof that ZA/UM still had the talent to create ambitious and unique experiences.

The problem was not the quality of the game, according to the studio itself. ZA/UM explained that the layoffs were caused by the commercial performance of Zero Parades, which did not reach the expectations necessary to support the current structure of the company. The developer also stated that the restructuring process was carried out while working alongside its employees' representatives.

Looking at the numbers, the challenge becomes clearer. Although Zero Parades earned strong review scores and maintained a positive reception from players on platforms like Steam, it failed to generate the same level of attention that surrounded Disco Elysium. Its launch attracted a relatively small audience compared to other major RPG releases, making it difficult for the game to achieve the financial impact the studio needed.

Part of the difficulty may also come from the enormous shadow left by Disco Elysium. The 2019 RPG became a cult classic almost immediately, raising expectations that any future project from ZA/UM would have to reach an almost impossible standard. Even a very good game could struggle when compared to a title that many players consider one of the greatest RPGs ever made.

There is also the reality of today's gaming market. Thousands of games compete for players' attention every year, and even highly rated projects can disappear quickly if they fail to create a strong presence at launch. A positive review score is no longer a guarantee of success, especially for smaller studios without the marketing power of major publishers.

For now, ZA/UM maintains that its creative ambitions remain intact. The studio believes that the quality of its work is still its greatest strength and that future projects will continue following the same artistic principles that made Disco Elysium famous.

The story of Zero Parades serves as another example of how unpredictable the gaming industry has become. Creating a great game is only part of the challenge; finding an audience willing to buy it in a crowded market can be just as difficult.