Disco Elysiumdeveloper ZA/UM “involuntarily” removes several key developers from the studio as it works on its sequel. ZA/UM, an independent game developer based across several studios in the United Kingdom and Europe, shocked the industry withDisco Elysium’s release in 2019. Yet as anticipation forDisco Elysium’s in-development sequel continues to grow, it may be made under the guidance of different leadership than the original game.
Details regarding the newly reported changes at ZA/UM comes from Martin Luiga, who explains that their title is the Secretary of the ZA/UM cultural association. This cultural association is distinct fromZA/UM the company, and can be described as the collective of artists from which the idea behindDisco Elysiumwas born. Luiga announced that the ZA/UM cultural association had been dissolved, saying that it “no longer represents the ethos it was founded on.” As part of the statement, Luigia shared further “bad news” forDisco Elysiumfans."
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In clarifying the distinction between the ZA/UM cultural association and ZA/UM the company, Luiga explained that other members of the cultural association were no longer a part of the company. Specifically, he says the names ofRobert Kurvitz, Helen Hindspere, and Aleksander Rostov were no longer a part of ZA/UM and that their leaving was “involuntary. Lead writer/lead designer, narrative writer, and lead artist were the three’s respective roles.
No explanation for the trio’s departure was provided, with Luiga saying that it’s their story to tell. When asked about a rumor that the “money people” are responsible, Luiga did say the following: “The money people come from a background which says you gotta grab when you’re able to even when it in fact does not make much economic sense.“Disco Elysiumwas notably fundedby venture capitalists. Luiga also tells a fan that “you should be hating on ‘sociopathic criminals’ " rather than capitalism.
There’s no word regarding what Luiga, Kurvitz, Hindspere, or Rostov will do next. The dissolution of the ZA/UM cultural association implies the group won’t be working together even outsideDisco Elysium.Disco Elysiumshows that they’re each clearly very talented and the gaming industry is better with them, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the gaming industry is better for them. Luiga does tell fans not to worry, as it’s just an organization, and “we can build stuff on its ruins.” Fans are already asking companies fromMicrosoftto Sony to fund a new project from the group.
As forDisco Elysium 2, Luiga is still hopeful for the project. He says that “things with the sequel are actually sweet enough,” and that fans may even “get it the way it was meant.” He does warn thatdevelopment ofDisco Elysium 2may take a long time yet, but is thankful that RPG fans are “accustomed to waiting.”
Disco Elysium 2remains in development.
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