What ZA/UM Studio does

ZA/UM Studio is an independent game developer and publisher headquartered in London, United Kingdom (Unit 305, Brickfields, 37 Cremer St, Hoxton, London, E2 8HD), founded in 2015. The studio builds narrative-driven role-playing games on the Unity Engine, with a distinctive literary and philosophical approach that prioritizes story, character, and skill-check mechanics over traditional combat. Its flagship title, Disco Elysium, was released on PC in 2019 and won four Game Awards, three BAFTAs, and a D.I.C.E. Award, with the definitive Disco Elysium: The Final Cut launching on PC, Mac, and consoles in March 2021. The studio employs approximately 100 writers, artists, engineers, and producers across global studio locations and operates as a private, employee-owned entity via an Employee Share Option Plan (ESOP).

The company's product portfolio comprises Disco Elysium and its editions, Disco Elysium Mobile (DE Mobile) on Google Play (a re-imagination with 360-degree mobile-exclusive scenes and full voiceover), the upcoming Zero Parades: For Dead Spies (slated for 2026 release on PC and PlayStation 5), and the ZA/UM Atelier merchandise line. Zero Parades, an espionage-themed RPG set in the fictional city-state of Portofiro, uses dice-based mechanics consistent with the Disco Elysium design philosophy. ZA/UM serves RPG gamers globally, distributing exclusively through third-party storefronts (Steam, PlayStation Store, Google Play) and operating its own e-commerce storefront for merchandise.

Revenue is generated primarily through one-time license sales of games across PC, console, and mobile platforms, supplemented by merchandise sales through the ZA/UM Atelier storefront. The go-to-market motion is product-led: titles are launched digitally via storefronts, marketed through press coverage, developer commentary, wishlisting, and community engagement (including Steam Next Fest participation for Zero Parades in February–March 2026). Pricing is not publicly disclosed, and there are no disclosed funding rounds, parent companies, subsidiaries, or enterprise customer relationships in the available data.

Name

ZA/UM Studio

Legal name

ZA/UM Studio

Website

https://zaumstudio.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

ZA/UM Studio is an independent London-based game developer and publisher of narrative-driven RPGs. Its award-winning flagship Disco Elysium has sold globally on Steam, PS5, and mobile. The studio's next title, Zero Parades: For Dead Spies, launches in 2026.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Indie Video Games

akta.pro primary industry

VR/AR/XR Game Studios (MPAFAAAE)

Keywords

• Indie game development
• Narrative RPG games
• Video game publishing
• Role-playing games
• Digital game distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Video game sales: ZA/UM generates revenue through the sale of video games across PC, console, and mobile platforms. Disco Elysium and its definitive edition are sold as one-time purchases. Zero Parades is expected to follow a similar paid game model on Steam and PlayStation 5.
2. Merchandise (ZA/UM Atelier): ZA/UM operates a merchandise line under the ZA/UM Atelier brand, offering bodywear inspired by concepts from Disco Elysium. This is sold via the atelier.zaumstudio.com storefront.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

ZA/UM Studio is an independent video game developer and publisher that creates narrative-driven role-playing games sold to consumers via digital storefronts on PC (Steam), consoles (PlayStation 5), and mobile (Google Play). Its portfolio includes Disco Elysium and its definitive Final Cut edition, the mobile re-imagination DE Mobile, the upcoming Zero Parades: For Dead Spies, and a branded bodywear merchandise line sold through the ZA/UM Atelier storefront.

Product overview

ZA/UM Studio is an independent game developer and publisher offering a portfolio of narrative-driven RPG products: its flagship title Disco Elysium (with its definitive Final Cut edition), the upcoming Zero Parades: For Dead Spies, a mobile-optimized version DE Mobile, and ZA/UM Atelier merchandise. The core offering consists of story-rich RPGs with deep narrative mechanics, distributed across PC, consoles, and mobile platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Disco Elysium: The award-winning psychological RPG developed by ZA/UM, originally released on PC in 2019 with The Final Cut released in 2021.
• Zero Parades: For Dead Spies
• ZA/UM Atelier
• Disco Elysium Mobile (DE Mobile)

Products and services

• Disco Elysium Award-winning psychological, narrative-driven RPG for PC, set in the city of Revachol with rich character archetypes, skill checks, and an open world without traditional combat. Targeted at individual consumers who want a literary, story-rich RPG.
• Disco Elysium: The Final Cut Definitive edition of the Disco Elysium RPG released on PC, Mac, and consoles in March 2021, adding full voiceover and new 360-degree scenes for an expanded, more immersive experience.
• DE Mobile (Disco Elysium Mobile) A total re-imagination of the Disco Elysium RPG optimized for mobile devices, featuring brand-new 360-degree scenes built exclusively for mobile and new full voiceover audio, designed for short play sessions.
• Zero Parades: For Dead Spies Next genre-defining RPG from ZA/UM featuring a mind-warping story of espionage and team-building in an original setting (the city-state of Portofiro), with dice-based mechanics and narrative choices instead of traditional combat; slated for 2026 release on PC and PS5.
• Zero Parades: For Dead Spies (Steam Next Fest Demo) Free playable demo of Zero Parades: For Dead Spies debuting on Steam during Steam Next Fest, providing access to the opening portion with two quests and three character archetypes.
• ZA/UM Atelier Original range of bodywear merchandise offered by ZA/UM under the ZA/UM Atelier brand, sold directly through the studio's own e-commerce storefront. Inspired by concepts from Disco Elysium.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• CD Projekt Red: Developer of The Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077. Comparable as a narrative-heavy RPG developer with literary world-building, but operates at significantly larger scale and is publicly listed.
• BioWare: Developer of Mass Effect, Dragon Age, and Baldur's Gate. Comparable in narrative-RPG focus and literary world-building, but operates as a much larger studio within a major publisher.
• Bethesda Game Studios: Developer of The Elder Scrolls and Fallout series. Comparable as a narrative-RPG developer with a deep open-world storytelling identity, though at significantly larger scale and within a major publisher.

Direct peers

• Larian Studios: Independent developer of narrative-heavy RPGs such as Baldur's Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin. Closely comparable to ZA/UM as a similarly sized, privately held studio that competes in the same narrative-RPG genre with deep story systems and dice-based mechanics.
• Obsidian Entertainment: Developer of narrative RPGs including Pillars of Eternity, The Outer Worlds, and Disco Elysium's spiritual predecessors. Closely comparable in mission (literary, choice-driven RPGs) and is one of the most frequently cited ZA/UM peers.
• Supergiant Games: Independent studio behind Hades, Bastion, Transistor, and Pyre. Comparable as a small independent team known for narrative-driven action/RPGs with strong critical reception and a recognizable house style.
• inXile Entertainment: Developer of narrative-focused RPGs including Wasteland 3 and Torment: Tides of Numenera. Directly comparable as an independent narrative-RPG studio with comparable team size and genre focus.
• Dontnod (DON'T NOD): Studio behind Life is Strange, Tell Me Why, and Vampyr. Comparable as a narrative-driven developer with a strong literary sensibility and similar independent studio profile targeting story-rich experiences.
• Remedy Entertainment: Developer of narrative-driven action games such as Control and Alan Wake. Comparable in its focus on storytelling, world-building, and a single creative identity across releases.
• Quantic Dream: Studio behind Detroit: Become Human and Heavy Rain. Comparable as a narrative-first developer whose games are defined by writing, choice, and literary ambition rather than combat mechanics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/studioZAUM

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ZA/UM Studio