Tallinn, Estonia, February 10, 2026 — ZA/UM, the studio behind the critically acclaimed Disco Elysium, intends to remain an independent game developer, even if its newest title, Zero Parades, becomes a massive commercial success.
Staying Small to Stay Innovative
The creators of Disco Elysium prioritize artistic freedom over rapid expansion, hoping to avoid the pitfalls of the “triple-A” gaming world.
- ZA/UM currently employs just under 100 staff members across offices in Estonia, the UK, and Portugal.
- The studio’s writer and VO director, Jim Ashilevi, expressed a desire to avoid becoming a “triple-A” studio.
- Ashilevi believes the most innovative ideas in gaming come from independent developers.
- He acknowledged the current gaming industry is “grim” but creatively vibrant.
“I hope we’ll never become a triple-A studio,” said Jim Ashilevi, writer and VO director at ZA/UM, in a recent interview. The studio, which gained recognition with 2019’s Disco Elysium, currently operates with a relatively small team of under 100 employees, many working remotely. ZA/UM maintains independently owned offices in Tallinn, Estonia; London, UK; and Porto, Portugal.
What makes a successful game in today’s market? According to Ashilevi, it’s the ability to connect with players on a personal level, something increasingly possible thanks to a more open industry. “I think the industry is in a really rough place,” he said. “But I don’t think the industry is in a rough place creatively. It’s better than ever before because anyone can make a game that touches the hearts of hundreds of millions of people.”
The success of 2025’s Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a single-player, story-led game developed outside of major publishing circles, demonstrated a significant appetite for this type of experience. Ashilevi noted that the industry is becoming “less gatekeep-y,” but this presents new challenges in promoting games and reaching audiences.
“I think really the only thing you can control is whether you’re staying true to your own vision and your own voice,” he explained. That vision, as previously discussed, has been central to the development of Zero Parades. “For that reason, I’m already really proud and happy with what we’ve done,” Ashilevi said. “It’s like the response coming from the players – which will hopefully be positive, mostly positive – is almost just a bonus at this point. The real value I got out of it as a storyteller was just getting to know my friends and colleagues a little better and getting to know more about what goes on in their hearts and minds and souls.”
ZA/UM has also shared its perspective on the use of artificial intelligence, and why its new RPG shares similarities with Disco Elysium.
