As a huge fan of ZA/UM and Disco Elysium, I was so thrilled to hear that the developers have formed a union! It’s amazing that the UK games industry has officially recognized it – it’s a first for the country, and a really positive step for everyone involved. It’s great to see the team behind such a critically acclaimed RPG taking this stand.
In a blog post on October 2nd on the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB) Game Workers website, chairperson Spring McParlin-Jones and organizing officer Eugenia Peruzzo shared their enthusiasm about this news. This is significant, especially since a recognized union at ZA/UM could inspire other game developers in the UK who are seeking to organize and gain collective bargaining power. It’s a big deal, after all, particularly because ZA/UM’s recognized union could provide hope for other developers in the UK looking to gain collective power.
As the blog post highlighted, this represents a significant step forward for workers across the industry. It will provide both employees and management with the tools they need to discuss important issues related to mental health, financial wellbeing, and overall quality of life at work. ZA/UM will form a committee of employee representatives – with assistance from the IWGB – to address the team’s concerns. Ultimately, ZA/UM developers will now have a voice and the ability to shape their working conditions. This is a positive development.
McParlin-Jones repeated their desire for other game developers to “join us” in working towards a more positive industry, explaining that forming officially recognized unions is the way to make that happen.
It’s clear to everyone in the games industry that things haven’t been fair for a long time. Now, the team at ZA/UM is demonstrating that by uniting as a union, we can regain control and improve our working conditions,” said McParlin-Jones. “Our goal is to create a game development environment where people can make fun and important games without giving up their personal lives, wellbeing, or financial security. We need to prioritize people and build a sustainable industry.” This is about creating a better future for everyone.
Peruzzo built upon McParlin-Jones’ comments, explaining that this acknowledgment demonstrates the significant influence of developers – it’s not just a single instance, but “an avalanche in the making.”
According to Peruzzo, securing our first recognition agreement with IWGB ZA/UM demonstrates what game workers can achieve by uniting, supporting one another, and joining our Union. Recognition agreements establish a positive working relationship between companies and their employees, and help to level the playing field after some difficult years for the gaming industry, including the recent redundancies at ZA/UM. We anticipate securing many more of these agreements in the future.
Also from ZA/UM, the studio just announced its next game during Sony’s September 24 State of Play presentation. Called Zero Parades, this espionage RPG uses the same isometric perspective and chance-based events as Disco Elysium. We can expect it to be released sometime next year.
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2025-10-02 22:09