Disco Elysium developer, ZA/UM, is facing upheaval as revealed by a recent report by PC Gamer. A stand-alone expansion for Disco Elysium was in advanced stages of development when it got canceled, resulting in layoffs within the team. In 2022, key developers, Robert Kurvitz, Aleksander Rostov, and Helen Hindpere, exited the company amid controversial circumstances; Kurvitz and Rostov cited management’s financial wrongdoing, contradicting the company’s assertion that they were dismissed for misconduct.
Dispite these hurdles, remaining staff soldiered on, aiming to develop something worthy of the Disco Elysium legacy. The axed expansion was being created by Disco Elysium writer Argo Tuulik and Dora Klindžić, who claim they were forced to pitch their concept under challenging conditions. After it gained approval, the project was rushed into production, with Klindžić saying, “We were set up to fail from the start.”
By 2023’s end, an internal demo of the expansion had been developed, receiving positive internal feedback. However, the project was abruptly canceled in February 2024, leading to more layoffs. The future of ZA/UM’s two ongoing projects, including a smaller Elysium game aimed at touchscreen devices, remains uncertain given the turbulent climate.
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