ZA/UM
ZA/UM business and news from across the web.
Latest coverage
ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies Director’s Cut is Coming to Xbox Series X/S on November 3rd
ZA/UM's ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies is receiving a Director's Cut update on November 3rd for Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch, with PC players receiving it as a free update. The Director's Cut adds over 40,000 words of story, voice-over improvements, and new features like Backstage Mode. The article also references a previous review of the base game, noting its strengths in setting and characterization but also its lack of guidance, and mentions layoffs at the studio, implying the original release did not perform as well as Disco Elysium.
ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies Director’s Cut is Coming to Nintendo Switch 2 on November 3rd
ZA/UM has announced that ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies Director’s Cut will launch on Nintendo Switch 2 and PlayStation 5 on November 3rd. The enhanced version adds substantial new material, including an entirely new Dramatic Encounter, Backstage Mode, more outfits, and approximately 40,000 more words of writing. While PC players will receive the Director's Cut as a free update, the company's recent financial struggles and employee redundancies cast a shadow over the release.
Zero Parades: Director’s Cut coming to Nintendo Switch 2, second game from the developer of Disco Elysium
ZA/UM, the developer of Disco Elysium, has announced Zero Parades: Director's Cut for the Nintendo Switch 2, set to release on November 3, 2026. This espionage RPG's Director's Cut includes new content such as a dramatic encounter, expanded scenes and relationships, a backstage mode showcasing development, revised English voice-over, and additional visual and quality-of-life improvements.
Disco Elysium splinter studio's Red Rooster is going to be a 'an incendiary, physics-driven RPG' where you play an inmate, an opiate-fuelled mathematician, and a bus driver with nunchucks
Eternal Summer, a studio formed by former Disco Elysium developers, has announced its debut title, Red Rooster. This physics-driven RPG will allow players to investigate arson as an inmate partnered with an opiate-dependent mathematician, blending cerebral worldbuilding with immersive sim elements.
"We are here to give you something to believe in": the former Disco Elysium devs of Summer Eternal reveal new RPG Red Rooster, a game of fire, water and alternate selves
Former Disco Elysium developers have formed a new studio, Summer Eternal, and revealed their upcoming RPG, Red Rooster. The game is described as a spiritual successor to Disco Elysium, featuring a 3D real-time third-person perspective, a magic realist setting, and a physics-powered sandbox with a focus on fire and alternate selves. The studio aims for an anti-capitalist approach to game development, though the game is still in early pre-production and seeking funding.
Red Rooster announced for Nintendo Switch 2, from former Disco Elysium devs
Summer Eternal has announced Red Rooster, a physics-driven RPG developed by former Disco Elysium creators, for the Nintendo Switch 2 and other platforms. The game features a unique investigative narrative set in an alternate-history science fiction world, aiming to push the boundaries of the RPG genre with dynamic, reactive environments and physics-based mechanics.
Ex-ZA/UM developers reveal Red Rooster, an "incendiary RPG" that is very intentionally not trying to be a "Disco Elysium successor" or "Disco-like"
Summer Eternal, a studio founded by former ZA/UM developers including writer Argo Tuulik, has announced its debut RPG, Red Rooster. The game is described as an "incendiary, physics-driven RPG" that aims to combine immersive sim elements with deep worldbuilding, and is being built in Unreal Engine. The studio is also releasing a 500-page anthology book detailing the game's development and industry commentary, which includes a player-funded model.
RPGs are simply better when you're an idiot
This article argues that role-playing games are more engaging when they embrace player failure and incompetence, rather than solely selling a power fantasy. It highlights how games like Disco Elysium and Baldur's Gate 3, along with tabletop RPGs, create richer narratives and more satisfying successes by allowing for mistakes and unexpected consequences.
The Galaxies Showcase returns on October 15, with announcements from ZA/UM, Embark Studios, and Frontier Developments
The Galaxies Showcase is returning on October 15th, featuring new announcements from developers such as ZA/UM, Embark Studios, and Frontier Developments. The stream will be broadcast on IGN's YouTube channel, Facebook, Twitch, and other platforms, starting at 12pm PT / 3pm ET.
The Galaxies Showcase returns next week: here's how to watch it and what to expect
The Galaxies Showcase returns on October 15th, featuring over 40 game developers and publishers including Square Enix Collective, Krafton, and Embark Studios. Hosted by Jane Douglas, the event will reveal new announcements, anticipated sequels, and blockbuster franchises. The showcase aims to highlight games from both large publishers and small indie teams.
Hyper Light Drifter developer Heart Machine lays off majority of staff, risks closure
Heart Machine, the studio behind Hyper Light Drifter, has laid off the majority of its staff after a publisher rescinded funding for an unannounced title. Studio founder Alx Preston described the situation as devastating and expressed uncertainty about the studio's future survival amidst a challenging industry for smaller developers.
Escape a roundabout as a stoned tuk-tuk driver in Zero Parades' free Director’s Cut update, which will add about 40,000 new words to the RPG next month
ZA/UM is releasing a free Director's Cut update for its RPG Zero Parades on October 1st, adding approximately 40,000 words of new narrative content, including a new scene featuring the protagonist and an old friend in a stoned tuk-tuk. The update also includes completed English voice-overs, a new 'Backstage Mode' for a behind-the-scenes look at development, and various other quality-of-life improvements. This update coincides with the game's console release, following a period of studio drama and layoffs attributed to the game's commercial performance.
ZERO PARADES is Getting a Free Director’s Cut Update On October 1st, PS5 Version Out on November 3rd
ZA/UM announced that ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies will receive a free Director's Cut update on October 1st, adding substantial new material and features like a new Dramatic Encounter and a Backstage development peek. A PlayStation 5 version is also slated for release on November 3rd. The update includes technical enhancements such as ultrawide display support and controller remapping.
The Sunday Papers
This week's gaming news roundup highlights multiple laptop thefts at Gamescom 2026, impacting indie developers. Articles also explore the narrative depth of Grand Theft Auto 6's character dynamics, the evocative soundtrack of Disco Elysium, and a memorable performance in Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3.
Supermassive Games are the latest studio to announce layoff plans, with 75 jobs at risk just three months after Directive 8020 launch
Supermassive Games has announced that it is beginning redundancy consultations for up to 75 employees, marking the studio's third round of layoffs in two years. This decision comes just three months after the launch of their latest horror game, Directive 8020. The studio cited the need for sustainability as the reason for the difficult decision, a move that mirrors broader trends of job cuts within the gaming industry.
Indie Game Bundle Aiding Laid-Off Developers Is Nearing $200,000 Raised
A Game Industry Hardship Fund bundle on Itch.io, created by Necrosoft Games director Brandon Sheffield and the United Videogame Workers, has raised nearly $200,000 to assist laid-off developers with living expenses. The bundle features 127 games, including titles like Skatebird and A Short Hike, with all proceeds going to affected individuals in the US and Canada. This initiative comes in response to widespread layoffs within the industry, with funds being distributed by the union.
New data suggests layoffs will affect 14,259 people by the end of 2026, up 78% from first forecast of the year
New data from the ASGC Games Industry Layoffs Tracker forecasts that job losses will reach 14,259 by the end of 2026, a significant increase from earlier projections. This trend indicates an acceleration in layoffs, with North America and Europe being the most affected regions. The projected numbers for 2026 are expected to surpass the total for 2024.
ZA/UM announces layoffs two months after the launch of Zero Parades
ZA/UM, the studio behind Disco Elysium, has announced layoffs affecting up to 32 employees. This news comes two months after the launch of their latest game, 'Disco Elysium: The Final Cut'.
Disco Elysium Dev ZA/UM Announces Layoffs Affecting Up to 32 Staff
Disco Elysium developer ZA/UM has announced layoffs affecting up to 32 staff. This news comes just two months after the studio launched its latest game, Zero Parades: For Dead Spies.
ZA/UM are set for more layoffs only two months after launching Zero Parades: For Dead Spies
ZA/UM is reportedly laying off over 30 employees, approximately one-third of its studio, just two months after the release of Zero Parades: For Dead Spies. The company cited the game's commercial performance as the reason for the layoffs, despite its critical acclaim. This follows previous controversies and the formation of the ZA/UM Workers' Alliance, the UK's first recognized video game union.
