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Former employees were dismissed for “egregious behaviour,” according to the Disco Elysium studio

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It appears that Disco Elysium must now start and conclude each of my working days, which feels quite Disco Elysium. The studio that created Disco Elysium, ZA/UM, disclosed the reasons why a number of staff were let go last year in a statement to GamesIndustry.biz. These consist of “little to no engagement in their responsibilities,” “creating a toxic work environment,” “verbal abuse and gender discrimination,” as well as making an effort to sell ZA/intellectual UM’s property to other businesses.

The departure of game director Robert Kurvitz, art director Aleksander Rostov, and writer Helen Hindpere from ZA/UM before the end of 2021 was made public last month. The studio’s response mirrors, in more formal language, remarks made by ZA/current UM’s CEO Ilmar Kompus to the Estonian newspaper Estonian Ekspress as well as points made in a blog post by Martin Luiga, who was a former employee of ZA/UM and the initial source of information regarding the firings.

Although particular employees are not mentioned in the official statement, Kurvitz and minority shareholder Saandar Taal are mentioned in Kompus’s comments in the Ekspress article (as translated by Google), where he claims that they were “humiliating colleagues and intending to steal IP.”

Taal, who left her position as a director of ZAUM UK LTD in 2021, has not yet made an appearance in this narrative. According to Kompus, Taal and Kurvitz visited other video game firms “secretly and in breach of existing contracts” in order to gain ownership of intellectual property, including Disco Elysium. Disco Elysium’s setting is derived from a lengthy personal D&D campaign that Kurvitz later used as the basis for his novel Sacred And Terrible Air.

Additionally, according to Kompus, Kurvitz and Taal “treated their coworkers very terribly” and Kurvitz “had a history of belittling women and coworkers,” respectively. According to GI.biz, their own sources have made assertions that corroborate these charges. One unnamed source claimed that long-tenured employees were unwilling to criticize Kurvitz’s behavior.

In a statement published yesterday on Medium, Kurvitz and Rostov claimed that Kompus and fellow businessman Tnis Haavel had obtained control of ZA/UM through fraud with the aid of another shareholder, writer Kaur Kender (with whom Kurvitz had previously collaborated and who served as Disco’s executive producer).

According to ZA/response UM’s to GI.biz, “the vast majority of proceeds from Disco Elysium have been invested back into the studio in order to fund our next projects, which are now in development,” and “any charge of financial misconduct or fraud that is being held against us” are denied. Additionally, the studio admits that legal documents have been filed (Kurvtiz’s company Telomer filed last month to “get information and study documents”), but they are certain they “will succeed in court once all the facts are heard.”

Anyone might theoretically be saying the truth at the same time. According to sources cited by GI.biz and Ekspress, the conflict was between the business team and the artistic team, who weren’t as focused on making a profit, and was described as “CEO corporate maneuvering on one side, a poisonous auteur on the other.” The only thing I can be certain of is that I’ll eventually need to make another news post on all of this. On GamesIndustry.biz, you can read the complete statement from ZA/UM Studio.

As Editor here at GeekReply, I'm a big fan of all things Geeky. Most of my contributions to the site are technology related, but I'm also a big fan of video games. My genres of choice include RPGs, MMOs, Grand Strategy, and Simulation. If I'm not chasing after the latest gear on my MMO of choice, I'm here at GeekReply reporting on the latest in Geek culture.

Gaming

Gran Turismo 7 Update 1.46 introduces an exciting addition to the roster of exclusive cars available in the PS5 and PS4 racing game

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Gran Turismo 7 has just received an exciting update to version 1.46 on both PS5 and PS4. This latest update introduces a unique addition to the game: the Škoda Vision Gran Turismo, a car that you won’t come across in any other game. Škoda makes its debut in the franchise with a visionary study of a single-seater, all-electric racing concept car, designed exclusively for the Polyphony Digital racer.

Once you’ve downloaded update 1.46, you’ll have the opportunity to test drive not one but two additional cars: the AFEELA Prototype 2024 and the iconic Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 Sport Coupe ’70. Get ready for an exhilarating ride! Watch as they take to the track in the video above.

Additionally, the update introduces a new menu for players to tackle in the GT Café. At Collector Level 38, players have the opportunity to delve into the fascinating world of Ferrari 12-cylinder engines, gaining knowledge and expanding their collection. In World Circuits, players can look forward to exciting new events such as the Japanese Clubman Cup 550, the American FR Challenge 550, and the Vision Gran Turismo Trophy. For all the avid fans of Photo Mode, there’s an exciting opportunity to explore the captivating city of San Diego in a brand new Scape.

What are your thoughts on the latest update for Gran Turismo 7? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section.

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ReFantazio Takes a Different Approach to Romance, Setting Itself Apart from the Persona Games

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Atlus’ highly anticipated RPG, Metaphor: ReFantazio, appears to incorporate familiar systems reminiscent of the developer’s acclaimed Persona series. The game features turn-based battles that heavily rely on exploiting enemy weaknesses. Additionally, players have the ability to summon warrior spirits during combat. However, the most significant aspect of this game, which will be discussed in this article, is the bonding system. Through this system, players can spend time with important characters and gain deeper insights into their personalities and stories.

In contrast to the Persona games, the bonding system ends at that point. Unfortunately, players will be unable to pursue romantic relationships with their beloved waifus, which may come as a disappointment to those who have developed strong feelings for Hulkenberg, the party’s charismatic red-haired elven knight.

According to Siliconera, the absence of romance came up during a recent question and answer session. Atlus emphasized the continued opportunity to develop meaningful relationships with your allies while also introducing additional narratives through substories. In addition, familiarizing yourself with the supporting characters will grant you access to new archetypes, which serve as the game’s character classes.

In the Persona games, romance is not obligatory; rather, it serves as a means to customize your playthrough. However, it is quite unexpected that Metaphor has chosen not to pursue such a venture, considering the significant amount of discussion it typically generates!

Were you anticipating any romantic elements in Metaphor? If you’re not satisfied with your pre-order, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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Shift Up unveils the intriguing details behind the physical packaging of Stellar Blade for the PS5

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It appears that many

are eagerly anticipating the launch of the highly anticipated PS5 exclusive, Stellar Blade. Shift Up, the developer, has shared a lengthy video showcasing the “secrets” found in the physical box of the game for PS5. From what we can gather, these secrets include a reversible cover/dust jacket and a download code for cosmetic items.

We must clarify that while we do appreciate the variant cover, it may be more appealing than the game’s standard art. However, it is not something we would typically classify as a “secret.”. However, what’s interesting is that Shift Up has confirmed through the comments section that this will be the case in all regions. Additionally, the visually striking action RPG will remain uncensored worldwide.

It’s refreshing to witness a developer going the extra mile for physical collectors, and it’s evident that the developer is determined to leave a favorable mark in the console realm. Stellar Blade is set to make its highly anticipated debut this Friday, April 26th, exclusively on the PS5.

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