Zero Parades: For Dead Spies Shown on PS5 Amid Ongoing ZA/UM Controversy

ZA/UM’s upcoming RPG, Zero Parades: For Dead Spies, just got a new PS5 showcase that introduces its cast. However, this reveal comes with a shadow over it: the controversial departure of the original creative team behind Disco Elysium, including writers Robert Kurvitz and Helen Hindpere, who left in 2022 under questionable circumstances.

The latest trailer gives us a clearer view of the game’s characters and tone as the release date approaches. Both visually and thematically, early impressions suggest ZA/UM aims to capture the same rich, literary RPG essence that made Disco Elysium a standout title with a Metacritic score of 91 and 92% positive ratings from 61,298 Steam reviews. The big question looms: can the studio recreate that magic without the writers who crafted it?

This controversy runs deep. Kurvitz, Hindpere, and lead artist Aleksander Rostov were removed from ZA/UM between late 2021 and early 2022. Estonian business records later showed that the company’s shares had been restructured, effectively sidelining the founders. The trio then established a new studio, Summer Eternal, taking their creative vision along with them. As a result, Zero Parades is being developed by a very different ZA/UM than the one that released Disco Elysium back in October 2019.

For potential players, the tension is palpable. The writing in Disco Elysium was a crucial element — the skill checks, the internal dialogue, the political nuance of Revachol. Those aspects were tied closely to the writers. ZA/UM hasn’t revealed who will lead the narrative for Zero Parades, which only heightens the scrutiny of each trailer. The Push Square breakdown of the latest PS5 footage describes the game as both promising and controversial — a fitting reflection of audience sentiment as the release date draws near.

Disco Elysium is currently priced at $39.99 on Steam and maintains around 1,555 concurrent players, a solid number for a single-player RPG that’s nearly seven years old. This retention highlights the original game’s staying power and sets a high bar for anything that comes next.

By The Numbers

Disco Elysium Metacritic Score	91
Steam Review Score	92% positive
Total Steam Reviews	61,298
Current Steam Concurrent Players	1,555
Current Price (Steam)	$39.99

The community’s feelings about the original game remain strong and passionate. One Steam reviewer captured the writing’s spirit perfectly: “There’s a f***ing FOUR-TON MANTIS on the island!” Those three words say more about Disco Elysium‘s exuberant, maximalist world-building than any press release could. That’s the benchmark Zero Parades needs to meet, whether ZA/UM acknowledges it or not.

What To Watch

• Creative credits disclosure: Keep an eye out for whether ZA/UM names the lead writers and narrative directors on Zero Parades before launch. Transparency here could address ongoing concerns.
• Summer Eternal’s progress: Robert Kurvitz and Helen Hindpere’s new studio is still in early development. Any announcements from Summer Eternal will likely draw comparisons and shift audience attention from Zero Parades.
• Review embargo timing: Given the stakes involved, how and when ZA/UM provides critics access to Zero Parades will indicate their confidence in the final product.