Zero Parades: For Dead Spies Launches May 21st

ZA/UM's latest title arrives on PC, drawing heavily from the studio's acclaimed predecessor, Disco Elysium.

The game follows protagonist Cascade, a spy seeking redemption after a failed operation. Players must manage attributes including fatigue, anxiety, and delirium, each of which directly influences dice rolls and skill checks throughout the experience.

The game's story reflects real-world conflicts, though this may be unintentional.

Creative and Stylistic Notes

While ZA/UM's signature writing style is present, early assessment indicates the writing quality is less polished than Disco Elysium. Some dialogue has been criticized as derivative of the studio's earlier work.

The game attempts to engage with anticapitalist themes, but does so less effectively than its predecessor.

Background: The Studio's Turbulent History

ZA/UM has been embroiled in a dispute since 2022 with former founding members Robert Kurvitz, Aleksander Rostov, and Helen Hindpere. The conflict encompasses several serious allegations:

• IP ownership disputes
• Share fluctuations
• Allegations of misconduct

In a 2023 People Make Games report, Kurvitz stated that "the company destroyed the lives of four close friends."

The studio has since faced layoffs and project cancellations. Notably, four new companies have been founded by former team members who left ZA/UM during this period.

Zero Parades: For Dead Spies launches on PC on May 21st.