Following numerous job interviews, public declarations, fresh research, scrapped initiatives (along with downsizing), the ex-employees of ZA/UM studio chose to put an end to the speculation and openly disclosed the circumstances surrounding the creators of Disco Elysium. They shared their insights in a lengthy, 18-hour discussion.
9 hours and the truth about ZA/UM – part one
Following the acclaimed release of their RPG, the Estonian studio appeared to emulate other successful independent teams by delving into mainstream production. Yet, instead of continued triumphs, they encountered disputes, departures of crucial creators, and the establishment of new teams with separate ventures that often collided even before the games were unveiled. This sequence of events caused frustration or even dismay among fans.
Over the past period, numerous interviews with ex- and current employees of ZA/UM have been released, all delving into the studio’s situation. However, The 41st Precinct channel took things to a new level – or perhaps a significant stretch. They published an interview that spanned close to 9 hours, featuring discussions with the developers of Disco Elysium. This is significantly longer than watching the entire cinematic version of the Lord of the Rings trilogy (less so if you consider the director’s cut).
No, it’s not due to lack of editing – the group had to cut out a lot of material.
“Castration” of rebellious devs
Indeed, it’s important to note that not every piece of information is entirely fresh. You may recall that some of the main figures behind Disco Elysium were expected to depart from their studio in 2021 – as one developer hinted, this was apparently not by their own choice. The higher-ups at ZA/UM attributed this to “toxic” conduct, while ex-employees suggested there was “corporate maneuvering” involved.
Argo Tuulik, a scriptwriter from Germany, has recently commented that the recent management team at ZA/UM sought to control the unpredictable nature of the two lead developers: Aleksandr Rostov and Robert Kurvitz. Tuulik acknowledges that this approach could have been viewed differently, but he believes it was clear that the intention behind these actions was to weaken or sabotage these talented creators.
Kurvitz found himself frustrated with being confined to solely the position of a screenwriter, and he was finding it irritating due to Tonis Haavela, one of the two investors who obtained the studio in 2021, attempting to convince him that Rostov wasn’t thriving as an artistic director. This situation led Kurvitz and Haavel to contemplate undermining Rostov’s position, although it remains unclear who initiated this plan first.
“Short” vacation of developers
It’s not hard to imagine that this situation didn’t go over smoothly in the studio. The only source of comfort for the employees during this time was Justin Keenan, a scriptwriter and narrative designer for Disco Elysium. However, following the change of ownership at ZA/UM in 2021, Keenan, along with other artists, was tasked with reporting these meetings to the studio management. He was also expected to reveal that Rostow was rumored to have labeled Haavel as a “financial criminal.
The outcome was that Rostov was let go. Subsequently, Kurvitz and Hindpere also faced termination. At first, their absence was explained as a temporary “leave of absence” for “cooling off.” Tuulik claimed that management felt they couldn’t dismiss “the architects of the entire Elysium universe,” as it would seem odd. However, later on, the developers alleged that Haavel and Ilmar Kompus (ZA/UM’s head) seized control of the studio through a “scheme.
Boredom and intellectual emptiness
The issues at the studio didn’t stop with what we discussed earlier regarding the unexpected cancellation of the sequel known as Y12. One of the few original DE team members still there, Dora Klindzic, remembers how management started hastily agreeing to script changes for the project – a move that raised her suspicions, as such alterations typically required more convincing.
Shortly afterward, the team was disheartened by the announcement of the game’s postponement, although several team members felt a sense of relief. They argued that creating Disco Elysium 2 without Rostov seemed pointless for ethical reasons and because the project lacked a clear direction of progression.
Moreover, it is said that development on the following game began with consensus from the entire studio, excluding Klindzic and Tuulika who vehemently opposed the venture due to issues with quality and perceived misogynistic elements, finding it allegedly the “most tedious thing” Tuulik had ever encountered. In his words, the concept embodied “tedium alongside intellectual void,” and management respectfully dismissed the concerns of their staff who were criticizing supposed flaws in the leadership’s decisions.
Indeed, we’ve summarized the initial portion of the interview so far, with the remainder scheduled for release next month. Meanwhile, efforts are underway to gather funds for Argo Tuulika, who intends to sue his former employer in court.
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2025-02-06 06:05