Layoffs at ZA/UM, unannounced game cancelled

[SpaceWizardz]

It's over:

Sources: Disco Elysium dev ZA/UM to lay off around a quarter of its staff, cancels new game​

ZA/UM in uproar after third project in three years gets canned

ZA/UM CEO Ilmar Kompus informed staff of the cuts in a message read by GLHF, writing that redundancies will mostly affect “the X7 team but also our non-development teams and non-X7 projects.”

ZA/UM is planning on letting a quarter of its workforce go, according to sources with inside knowledge.
ZA/UM
Groups at risk of redundancy were listed in a separate message seen by GLHF and named writers as well as engineers on the X7 project alongside 3D, 2D, and technical artists, production, IT, and animation employees company-wide.
According to our sources this is the third big project at ZA/UM to be canned or put on hold in as many years with a Disco Elysium sequel (codenamed Y12) being cut in 2022 and a game set in a new sci-fi IP (codenamed P1) being paused in 2023.
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This leaves two projects, codenamed C4 and M0 internally, in active development, with the latter believed to be related to the Disco Elysium IP. Just last week, ZA/UM opened job applications for a new design director with experience in creating narratively driven role-playing games.
Find the full message sent to staff by ZA/UM CEO Ilmar Kompus below:

Dear all,
Despite concerted efforts over the past eight months by our management team and the X7 disciplines, following consultation with our management team, I have taken the difficult decision to cancel X7. This decision, unlike the pause on Project P1, will unfortunately most likely lead to redundancies within our studio.
With the cancellation of X7 we are proposing to reshape our team to support our two remaining games. This adjustment will almost certainly lead to redundancies, mostly affecting the X7 team but also our non-development teams and non-X7 projects.
We are approaching this sensitive issue with the utmost care and respect. We will be initiating a formal redundancy consultation procedure with employees of Zaum Studio Limited who are at risk of redundancy in accordance with UK law. If you’re one of these employees, you will very shortly receive a Slack message, email, and a calendar invite for a meeting with your Lead and HR to discuss the next steps. Any individual whose role is affected, but who is not employed by Zaum Studio Limited, for example those employed by Deel or in our other EU locations, will be contacted separately about the procedure that will be followed. During this transition period, let’s maintain professionalism and support each other, upholding our studio values.
Ed will provide more context during our campfire in two hours (invite will be sent shortly). We will also open our anonymous Q&A form which can be found here: [Link]
Regards,
Ilmar

One source blamed mismanagement for the current situation, claiming that management was “always acting like there was an enemy, be it the old Disco team, the press, or even people working there” and consequently failed to value its existing talent, allegedly preferring to hire fresh blood from outside rather than promoting employees from within the company. They also said “I don’t think women were treated the same and that their work wasn’t as valued.”
Another source bemoaned that the studio had “turned into the very thing that Disco Elysium was against. Brilliant people work there and I want only the best for them but [...] I hope it's somewhere else.”
We’ll keep you updated on this situation as it develops.

 

[Shaki]

It's over:

Sources: Disco Elysium dev ZA/UM to lay off around a quarter of its staff, cancels new game​

ZA/UM in uproar after third project in three years gets canned

ZA/UM CEO Ilmar Kompus informed staff of the cuts in a message read by GLHF, writing that redundancies will mostly affect “the X7 team but also our non-development teams and non-X7 projects.”

ZA/UM is planning on letting a quarter of its workforce go, according to sources with inside knowledge.
ZA/UM
Groups at risk of redundancy were listed in a separate message seen by GLHF and named writers as well as engineers on the X7 project alongside 3D, 2D, and technical artists, production, IT, and animation employees company-wide.
According to our sources this is the third big project at ZA/UM to be canned or put on hold in as many years with a Disco Elysium sequel (codenamed Y12) being cut in 2022 and a game set in a new sci-fi IP (codenamed P1) being paused in 2023.
Scroll to Continue

​

This leaves two projects, codenamed C4 and M0 internally, in active development, with the latter believed to be related to the Disco Elysium IP. Just last week, ZA/UM opened job applications for a new design director with experience in creating narratively driven role-playing games.
Find the full message sent to staff by ZA/UM CEO Ilmar Kompus below:

Dear all,
Despite concerted efforts over the past eight months by our management team and the X7 disciplines, following consultation with our management team, I have taken the difficult decision to cancel X7. This decision, unlike the pause on Project P1, will unfortunately most likely lead to redundancies within our studio.
With the cancellation of X7 we are proposing to reshape our team to support our two remaining games. This adjustment will almost certainly lead to redundancies, mostly affecting the X7 team but also our non-development teams and non-X7 projects.
We are approaching this sensitive issue with the utmost care and respect. We will be initiating a formal redundancy consultation procedure with employees of Zaum Studio Limited who are at risk of redundancy in accordance with UK law. If you’re one of these employees, you will very shortly receive a Slack message, email, and a calendar invite for a meeting with your Lead and HR to discuss the next steps. Any individual whose role is affected, but who is not employed by Zaum Studio Limited, for example those employed by Deel or in our other EU locations, will be contacted separately about the procedure that will be followed. During this transition period, let’s maintain professionalism and support each other, upholding our studio values.
Ed will provide more context during our campfire in two hours (invite will be sent shortly). We will also open our anonymous Q&A form which can be found here: [Link]
Regards,
Ilmar

One source blamed mismanagement for the current situation, claiming that management was “always acting like there was an enemy, be it the old Disco team, the press, or even people working there” and consequently failed to value its existing talent, allegedly preferring to hire fresh blood from outside rather than promoting employees from within the company. They also said “I don’t think women were treated the same and that their work wasn’t as valued.”
Another source bemoaned that the studio had “turned into the very thing that Disco Elysium was against. Brilliant people work there and I want only the best for them but [...] I hope it's somewhere else.”
We’ll keep you updated on this situation as it develops.

Who would've thought that a studio responsible for Disco Communism, would be dysfunctional, what a shock

 

[ind33d]

Disco Elysium was only good by accident, like a fat woman wearing a cow-print bikini

 

[Cohesion]

Why did they open UK office? Developing there must be more expensive than in Estonia.

 

[Shaki]

Why did they open UK office? Developing there must be more expensive than in Estonia.

Easier to find woke devs to hire tho

 

[Abu Antar]

Not going well over there if these rumours are true.

https://videogames.si.com/news/disco-elysium-dev-zaum-layoffs

Around 24 employees are at risk of redundancy at Disco Elysium maker ZA/UM, according to GLHF sources close to the matter. This is roughly a quarter of the company’s current total workforce.

These cuts go hand in hand with the cancellation of a project codenamed X7, which we’ve been told was a standalone expansion for Disco Elysium. In a call with staff ZA/UM president Ed Tomaszewski said that X7 “was a game that was one to two years away from completion” and could’ve taken “more time and effort than Disco Elysium did.”

ZA/UM CEO Ilmar Kompus informed staff of the cuts in a message read by GLHF, writing that redundancies will mostly affect “the X7 team but also our non-development teams and non-X7 projects.”

Groups at risk of redundancy were listed in a separate message seen by GLHF and named writers as well as engineers on the X7 project alongside 3D, 2D, and technical artists, production, IT, and animation employees company-wide.

According to our sources this is the third big project at ZA/UM to be canned or put on hold in as many years with a Disco Elysium sequel (codenamed Y12) being cut in 2022 and a game set in a new sci-fi IP (codenamed P1) being paused in 2023.

 

[Dishonoredbr]

I guess Capitalism won.. again.

 

[taxalot]

I'd like to thank Karl Marx for the layoffs.

 

[Axioms]

Whatever happened with all the previous drama with the old team? Was there a settlement or w/e?

 

[Butter]

They made a failed book into a non-game. Maybe it's time to turn a failed game into a non-book.

 

[agris]

The fact they had 100 employees and two offices is bat shit insane. Of course they’re laying off people, the MBAs ran the business into the ground it sounds like

 

[Roguey]

Cunta deleted his xitter account. Is he gone?

Edit: I see he was promoted to Operations Director back in August of last year. Would be a shame if that promotion came with an axing a mere half a year later.

 

[toro]

https://videogames.si.com/news/disco-elysium-dev-zaum-layoffs

Sources: Disco Elysium dev ZA/UM to lay off around a quarter of its staff, cancels new game
ZA/UM in uproar after third project in three years gets canned

Around 24 employees are at risk of redundancy at Disco Elysium maker ZA/UM, according to GLHF sources close to the matter. This is roughly a quarter of the company’s current total workforce.

These cuts go hand in hand with the cancellation of a project codenamed X7, which we’ve been told was a standalone expansion for Disco Elysium. In a call with staff ZA/UM president Ed Tomaszewski said that X7 “was a game that was one to two years away from completion” and could’ve taken “more time and effort than Disco Elysium did.”

ZA/UM CEO Ilmar Kompus informed staff of the cuts in a message read by GLHF, writing that redundancies will mostly affect “the X7 team but also our non-development teams and non-X7 projects.”

 

[Cheesedragon117]

Damn, it's truly over. If I were Kurvitz, i'd pack my bags, move to the US, and try to establish a whole new studio to share by creative vision with, IP debacle be damned. Kompus can go to hell. The fact that they were working on so many different things at once is rather telling.

Also, what's with all the mass layoffs in seemingly every industry around the world? Is the ruling class abandoning all pretense and just trying to reinstate chattel slavery, to prop up the GDP for just a little while longer? Is that where we're at?!

 

[Cat Headed Eagle]

Also, what's with all the mass layoffs in seemingly every industry around the world? Is the ruling class abandoning all pretense and just trying to reinstate chattel slavery, to prop up the GDP for just a little while longer? Is that where we're at?!

It's what happens during a "recession". Recessions are endurance tests to weed out smaller businesses and people, so they go back to their place as slaves. It's capitalism 101.

 

[Haba]

Also, what's with all the mass layoffs in seemingly every industry around the world? Is the ruling class abandoning all pretense and just trying to reinstate chattel slavery, to prop up the GDP for just a little while longer? Is that where we're at?!

Money printer went BRRRRR. Too much money was printed, and spent. Now money is all gone.

Last guy sitting at the table has to settle the bill.

 

[Hagashager]

Damn, it's truly over. If I were Kurvitz, i'd pack my bags, move to the US, and try to establish a whole new studio to share by creative vision with, IP debacle be damned. Kompus can go to hell. The fact that they were working on so many different things at once is rather telling.

Also, what's with all the mass layoffs in seemingly every industry around the world? Is the ruling class abandoning all pretense and just trying to reinstate chattel slavery, to prop up the GDP for just a little while longer? Is that where we're at?!

There was an absolutely massive amount of bloat coming upon Covid. Companies, particularly corporations, were flush with cash specifically for hiring. Now that the cash is dried up these companies can't afford to keep their redundant employees, especially if they're pencil pushers.

 

[Lagole Gon]

Whoa...

It's like poetry, it rhymes...

 

[normie]

fuck cunta

 

[La vie sexuelle]

Another source bemoaned that the studio had “turned into the very thing that Disco Elysium was against.

The metaphor of capitalist evil and fascism was therefore a projection of communism itself.

As usual.

 

[Joggerino]

That's exactly what they deserve after the hostile takeover of the IP from the original creators. Good riddance and also what a shame it turned out this way.

 

[DJOGamer PT]

So does this mean PrimeJunta is coming back to posting here?

 

[Sordid MCA/Prosper Hybryd]

Fuck those losers.

 

[Sòren]

Around 24 employees are at risk of redundancy

"risk of redundancy" laughing out loud. HR are evolving their language i see.

it's always funny to observe how wasteful game companies use their ressources once they got one or two successful projects.

manager guy: "so what is this?"
developer: "so here we have -"
manager guy: "naa, needs much more black people, asians and gays. needs to be more gay in general and bigger tits for our niche audience."
developer: "ok we can just -"
manager guy: "we are done here, we will move your team to the revival of the stones of arnhem project, based on the original artworks. now that looks promising."

 

[Cohesion]

bigger tits

fake news!