ZA/UM, the developer behind the critically acclaimed game Disco Elysium, has announced that it will be laying off 24 employees, which is about 25% of its workforce. This decision comes after the company decided to cancel the standalone expansion project for Disco Elysium, known as X7.
In a message obtained by GLHF, ZA/UM CEO Ilmar Kompus stated, “While our management team and X7 The disciplines have worked together over the past eight months, but after consultation with our management team, I have made the difficult decision to cancel the X7. Unfortunately, this decision, unlike the pause on the P1 project, will likely result in layoffs within our studio.”
The cancellation of the X7 project has led to the need to reshape the team to support the development of ZA/UM’s two remaining games, known as C4 and M0. This restructuring will predominantly impact the X7 team, as well as non-development teams and non-X7 projects within the company.
Reports indicate that the X7 project was still 1 to 2 years away from completion, further adding to the difficulty of the decision to cancel it. The layoffs are an unfortunate consequence of this decision, but it is a necessary step for the company to focus its resources on its remaining projects.
This news has undoubtedly come as a shock to both employees and fans of Disco Elysium, as the game has received widespread praise for its unique storytelling and gameplay. It remains to be seen how ZA/UM will navigate this challenging period and how it will impact the future of the company and its games.