![]() ![]() ![]() I can’t imagine many of those fans would be interested in a sequel without the original creators at the helm. The integrity of ZA/UM seems to be in question, and it’s difficult to separate their actions from what appears to be an attempt to capitalize on the immense success of Disco Elysium after the IP was sold to them in good faith.Įven if ZA/UM is able to weather the storm of negative publicity and legal challenges, their treatment of Kurvitz and Rostov has already alienated many fans. It’s hard not to have a sinking feeling about the future of the franchise. To me, the timing of these claims appears suspect, especially given that no employees have come forward to corroborate ZA/UM’s account, even though the accused parties no longer hold power within the company. It is also worth noting that ZA/UM only spoke out about the supposed toxic work environment and other accusations after Kurvitz and Rostov had made their own public statements regarding the alleged fraud. They noted that “Paying back stolen money, however, does not undo the crime here, it does not undo the majority that Kompus and Haavel have illegally gained in ZA/UM.” In their statement, Kurvitz and Rostov also addressed a separate claim from Disco Elysium producer Kaur Kender, who initially accused ZA/UM majority shareholders Ilmar Kompus and Tõnis Haavel of taking over the company by buying a story draft and four sketches made for the Disco Elysium sequel and reselling them back to ZA/UM for €4.8 million. In a statement provided to, Kurvitz and Rostov called ZA/UM’s press release “deeply misleading” and said, “We see our dismissal as part of a larger campaign against us and will pursue legal options accordingly.” Recent reports indicate that Kurvitz and Rostov are not backing down from their claims, despite ZA/UM’s insistence that the developers dropped their allegations of unfair dismissal due to a lack of evidence. ![]() They accused ZA/UM’s majority shareholders of misusing company funds to increase their stake in the company, an accusation which they allege led to their unfair dismissal. Collage Mode was released shortly after the settlement of a legal dispute between ZA/UM and the game’s original creators, Robert Kurvitz and Aleksander Rostov, who filed unfair dismissal claims against the company. However, my primary concern lies not with the potential for narrative dissonance, but with the timing of this update. Collage Mode does have quite a shift in tone from the base game. Therefore, it’s not likely to distract new players from the original experience of Disco Elysium’s story, as it’s entirely up to the individual whether or not to use this mode. Players must activate it from the menu before it appears in the game. While I understand the concern, I believe it’s important to note that the Collage Mode is an optional feature. Some fans have even expressed concerns that this new feature is blatantly out of place, detracting from the carefully crafted environment that made Disco Elysium so special. With such a strong narrative focus, the Collage Mode, which allows players to create quirky scenes using game assets, filters, and stickers, seems at odds with the game’s somber atmosphere. Even on Steam, the most recent reviews are flooded with fans decrying the actions of ZA/UM.ĭisco Elysium has long been celebrated for its immersive storytelling and world-building, tackling themes such as identity, politics, and morality. ![]() Many fans of the game feel the same, with many commenters on Reddit calling the new update soulless, spitting in the face of the legacy of the original creators. Players have been asking for a photo mode since the game’s release, and while collage mode offers players a new creative outlet to express themselves within the game’s world, I can’t help but feel that its introduction serves as a smokescreen for the ongoing disputes and allegations surrounding the game’s developer, ZA/UM. As a long-time fan of Disco Elysium, I was initially intrigued by the recent addition of Collage Mode. ![]()
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