Za/um

1 title

Founded: 2015
Nationality: Estonia

ZA/UM is an independent game developer and publisher founded in 2015. The studio is based in the UK and Europe, with its origins in Estonia.

Mini Bio

ZA/UM is an independent game developer and publisher founded in 2015. The studio is based in the UK and Europe, with its origins in Estonia. They are known for creating critically acclaimed role-playing games, most notably Disco Elysium and its expanded version, Disco Elysium: The Final Cut. ZA/UM also released an espionage RPG called Zero Parades: For Dead Spies in May 2026. ZA/UM Studio operates as a fully remote entity with offices spanning London, Tallinn, and Porto. The name derives from the Russian Futurist concept "Zaum," meaning transrational language "beyond the mind".

Backstage

Following the success of the game, a major corporate shift occurred. In 2022, lead writer Robert Kurvitz and art director Aleksander Rostov were ousted from the studio after disputes with investors. This resulted in an ongoing series of lawsuits regarding IP control and wrongful dismissal. Many original developers have since departed to form new studios such as Longdue and Summer Eternal

Awards

Game of the Year honours, including four Game Awards, three BAFTAs, and a D.I.C.E. Award. The definitive edition of the game

Games

(1)