# What happened to the creators of Disco Elysium?

> Disco Elysium leads Robert Kurvitz, Aleksander Rostov and Helen Hindpere left ZA/UM in late 2021 after an ownership fight; each side blames the other.

The main creators of Disco Elysium, lead writer and designer Robert Kurvitz, art director Aleksander Rostov and writer Helen Hindpere, left developer ZA/UM at the end of 2021. They say they were forced out, not simply fired, after new investors took majority control of the company in a way they called unlawful. ZA/UM's management denied this, said the departures were justified and later accused Kurvitz of a toxic work environment, which he rejected; the dispute played out in public and in legal claims.

## What happened

1. **2019:** Disco Elysium launches and becomes a critical hit, winning major awards.
2. **2021:** Kurvitz, Rostov and Hindpere leave ZA/UM. Their side says they were forced out after a change in ownership.
3. **2022:** ZA/UM co-founder Martin Luiga publicly says the departures were involuntary, which makes the dispute widely known.
4. **2022–2023:** Kurvitz and Rostov take legal steps over the ownership change; ZA/UM responds with its own allegations about their conduct and work.

## Why it matters

Disco Elysium's writing and art were closely tied to Kurvitz and Rostov's world of Elysium, developed years before the game. Losing them raised doubts about any direct sequel. ZA/UM has continued as a studio, while several former members started new projects of their own.

## FAQ

**Is Disco Elysium about communism?**
It is a political satire that mocks every ideology it shows, including communism, fascism, liberalism and moralism, while telling a personal story about a broken detective.

**Is Disco Elysium 2 happening?**
As of 2026, no direct sequel by the original team has been announced. ZA/UM has worked on new projects without the original leads.

**Were the Disco Elysium developers fired?**
According to Kurvitz, Rostov and co-founder Martin Luiga, the leads left involuntarily after losing control of the company. ZA/UM's management disputes that version, so whether it counts as a firing depends on whose account you accept.

**Who is Robert Kurvitz?**
An Estonian writer and musician who created the world of Elysium years before the game and was Disco Elysium's lead writer and designer. Since leaving ZA/UM he has worked on new projects outside the company.

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https://gamevoyages.com/why-were-the-creators-of-disco-elysium-fired/ · Game Voyage · Checked 2026-10-31