ZA/UM Lays Off Up to 32 After ZERO PARADES Commercial Failure
The layoffs at ZA/UM, less than a year after its union became the first officially recognized at a UK game studio, test whether labor cooperation can coexist with large-scale cuts in an industry experiencing unionization momentum.
Reporting from 1 source: Game Spark.
ZA/UM Studio has laid off up to 32 employees, citing poor commercial performance of its latest game ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies despite critical acclaim. The studio consulted with the ZA/UM Workers' Union, formed in October 2025 as the first recognized game studio union in the UK. The layoffs test the young union's role less than a year after its formation.
The ZA/UM Workers' Union, formed in October 2025 under the UK's IWGB, is the first officially recognized workplace union at a UK game studio. ZA/UM said it consulted and cooperated with union representatives throughout the layoff process. The studio stated, 'This will change the shape of ZA/UM, but its purpose remains unchanged. Our artistic standards remain as they have been.' ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies, released May 21, 2026, is available on PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG.com.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.