‘Disco Elysium’ is a flashy name for a flashy game. Released in autumn 2019, the detective RPG attracted attention with its painting-like style, bizarre storylines with philosophical discourses and an interesting setting – with success. The game is currently the 12th best rated game of all time on the Metacritic website. Both critics and normal users gave very positive ratings. Fans speculated about a sequel and a film adaptation via Amazon is said to be in the pipeline. However, the latest headlines surrounding ‘Disco Elysium’ are not so encouraging.
Trubel a Studio ZA/UM
Editor’s recommendation
At the beginning of the month, several founding members surprisingly left the development studio ZA/UM, which is behind ‘Disco Elysium’. One of the developers, Martin Luiga, also made it public that he and the other employees have not worked for the company for several months. ZA/UM “no longer represents the ethos on which the company was founded,” explained Luiga as a reason. The international studio emerged from the loosely organized Estonian artist group ZA/UM Cultural Association, ‘Disco Elysium’ was the studio’s first game. Now the long-time employees have been dismissed against their will. Founder Luiga declared the ZA/UM Cultural Association dissolved, but the studio continues to exist. It is unclear who owns the rights to ‘Disco Elysium’. Now the case goes to court.
https://t.co/1A00K8H6gB
law-jaw— ∞Luiga∞ (@martinluiga) October 23, 2022
‘Disco Elysium’: Litigation between author and studio
Robert Kurvitz, main author and designer of ‘Disco Elysium’ and creator of the book ‘Püha ja õudne lõhn’, has sued his old employer ZA/UM on behalf of his publishing company Telomer OÖ. The case can be viewed on the website of the Estonian Ministry of Justice, but detailed reasons are missing. November 28 is listed as the hearing date. Information about the case can still be gleaned from statements by Kurvitz and Luiga. In an interview with Kotaku, for example, when asked directly about the rights to ‘Disco Elysium’, Luiga replied: “What else would it be about?” get rights. “A collective is a tool,” says Luiga about the origins of ZA/UM. “It can be broken up and put back together if necessary, like a band.”
So the break around ‘Disco Elysium’ doesn’t seem to be a real end, even if all other projects are probably stagnating for the time being. Until then, the first part can be played on PC, Playstation, Xbox, Switch and Stadia.
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