ZA/UM Studio announced plans to cut up to 32 positions across all departments. The move follows the release of its game Zero Parades: For Dead Spies two months ago. The studio cited insufficient sales as the main factor.
ZA/UM Studio said it has served redundancy or at-risk notices to up to 32 colleagues. The decision affects staff in every department and stems from the commercial performance of Zero Parades: For Dead Spies.
The studio previously employed around 100 people and formed the first recognised UK video game developers' union in October 2025. It stated that it consulted with the ZA/UM Workers' Alliance during the process.
This marks the second round of layoffs at ZA/UM. In 2024 the studio cut around 24 roles after cancelling a Disco Elysium spin-off. The announcement drew sharp criticism on social media, with many users expressing sympathy for the affected workers.
Zero Parades: For Dead Spies received critical acclaim upon release. Reviewers praised its narrative depth and character work, though sales proved too low to maintain the current team size.
