How Disco Elysium Was Stolen From Its Creators

Disco Elysium is an outstanding RPG that was STOLEN from it's creators.

Disco Elysium is a story-based RPG developed by ZA/UM. Within the last few months, ZA/UM and the creators of Disco Elysium have gotten into some intense legal battles about the future of the game. What is going on with Disco Elysium?

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#DiscoElysium #DiscoElysiumFinalCut #ZAUM #RoboKast

[DagothDaddy]

In retrospect the studio being taken over by a large company and its creator being committed to an insane asylum really is the most thematically appropriate way for the IP to end.

[zanethezaniest]

ZA/UM died the most Disco Elysium death possible, swallowed by capital after critiquing it.

[kevinblack]

The worst part is, if you brought the idea for disco Elysium to the same people who stole the IP, they would laugh you out of the room. They are so afraid to take risks artistically that all they can do is steal ideas that have gained traction

[ckopen]

yeah, this is totally gonna sink the franchise. the new owners are literally the embodiment of one of the things the game warned about: Corporate greed.

[dontletmebrewthat]

You forgot to mention Helen who also got cut off from ZA/UM.

Otherwise, this reminds me of Vince Zampella and Jason West getting snaked out of Infinity Ward back in around 2010-ish. Except this ZA/UM issue is even more hilarious considering Disco Elysium's themes and content

[melteddali]

Good write up but its weird how you completely neglected to mention Helen Hindpere who was also a key writer who was also ousted in the hostile takeover. She wrote a large chunk of the games text alongside Kurvitz and her contributions at least warrant some sort of mention. It's wild to me that multiple sources you cite from and show ON SCREEN mention her yet you couldn't even give the barest of shout outs.

[beamslinger]

God this story makes me sad, I recently finished this game and it’s made such a huge impact on me, seriously one of the most unique and wonderful experiences I’ve ever had playing a game, I want to support the original creators and hope they get their company back.

[jesusofbullets]

You know it's crazy how if ZA/UM had just let the production team actually do their jobs, the Golden Goose would've laid ANOTHER EGG, but instead they butchered the Golden Goose for its meat...

[conorryan]

It's so sad - Disco Elysium grabbed me in a way no other game had in about 20 years, it was a bone fide masterpiece, and now it's been ruined by the very corporate greed it railed against. This world has so much potential, to see it squandered in this way is almost criminal.

[JackSather]

Wow i had no idea this was going on... CRAZY. and crazy good video, love the edits, so cool to see you on camera Robo!

[skleroosis]

Kompus's wife is Haavel's longtime girlfriend's sister. So it's a little crime family. Also in autumn he paid back the 4.8 million he stole from za/um, however he already got the shares with it, so it's not like that erases the crime, as far as I know we're still not allowed to use theft as an interest free loan.

[ニーア]

Was looking forward to being in disco elysium 2 now im just depressed

[Woupsme]

Thank you for this.
I knew there were some problems but had no idea what actually happened.
Good to know I won't have to support ZA/UM until this is fixed.
Or just help out the original 3 if they start their own thing.

[sensereference]

Why was Helen Hindpere cut out of the coverage of what happened (and it looks like maybe the photo in the video)? She was a huge part of Disco Elysium's success and also one of the key people fired alongside Kurvitz and Rostov.

[Sinpractica]

Definitely this is a game that i would now play pirated without any guilt.

[T-roccBABY]

Nevermind the irony of it all... The greatest tragedy (and one of my personal fears/loathes as an artist/writer) is that the creators, who have a genuine passion and built this up, the minds behind the entire thing are locked out of ownership and usage of their own creation. While it's noble to assume they can move on to another idea and bottle up lightning again in spite of this situation, it's gotta be one of the greatest hardships to have something you have contributed so much of your life towards, your creative baby, stripped entirely away from you.

[willaroberts]

is there a reason u didn't mention Helen Hindpere despite having ostensibly read that she, in fact, exists and matters greatly ?

[TheIronCast]

This is why shareholders should be at the bottom. Not the top. People who only buy into projects are investors in an idea. They are not creators, therefore they shouldn't be involved in any part of a creative operation. Simply put. A shareholder is someone who believes in the idea to put financial backing into it. Don't like the idea? Take your money elsewhere. There should be no degree of control by swinging money around.

[Wezla]

Hell yeah, give this issue visability!

[sapphic_sleeper]

why do people reporting on this never mention Helen Hindpere and her massive contributions to the game?