The studio ZA/UM, behind the award-winning game Disco Elysium, has reached an agreement with former employees who left the company last year. Previously, a dispute over the termination of some key team members had caused a stir. By now, most of the hardened fronts between ZA/UM and the former employees have been cleared.
The Background
The story began in October 2021 when ZA/UM founder Martin Luiga claimed that Disco Elysium designer Robert Kurvitz, author Helen Hindpere, and art director Aleksander Rostov had been fired after the company was acquired by Estonian businessmen Ilmar Kompus and Tõnis Haavel. Shortly thereafter, Kurvitz and Rostov made allegations against Kompus and Haavel in an open letter, accusing them of having taken over the studio under questionable circumstances. In turn, Kompus and Haavel accused the former employees of belittling women and colleagues, creating a toxic work environment, and attempting to steal intellectual property.
The Settlement
Now, ZA/UM has announced in a press release that most of the disputes have been resolved. The lawsuits filed by Kurvitz and Rostov for wrongful termination were dropped due to lack of evidence. Former executive producer and marketing manager Kaur Kender sold his shares in ZA/UM, repaid his debts, and reimbursed Kompus for legal fees. Additional details of the settlement remain confidential.
Outlook
ZA/UM emphasized that they will continue to fight against the "baseless accusations" of former employees. However, the studio also welcomes the new talent joining the team and working for ZA/UM. Whether ZA/UM can replicate the success of Disco Elysium remains to be seen. For the former employees, the settlement at least provides some relief after months of fighting against their former company.
