
ZA/UM Studio has launched a new behind-the-scenes podcast series focused on its upcoming role-playing game, Zero Parades: For Dead Spies, offering fans an early look at the creative process behind the espionage-themed title.
Titled IMPRINT – A ZA/UM Studio Devcast, the monthly series debuted in December 2025 and is hosted by writer and voice-over director Jim Ashilevi. Each episode features conversations with members of the development team, spotlighting different disciplines involved in building the studio’s next project.
The developer is best known for Disco Elysium: The Final Cut, a critically acclaimed narrative RPG that earned widespread recognition for its writing, voice acting and political themes. With Zero Parades, the studio appears to be continuing its focus on story-driven design, this time through the lens of espionage.
Zero Parades: For Dead Spies
According to the studio, the first episode of IMPRINT centered on art direction and world-building. Art Director Kaspar Tamsalu and Character Lead Iliya Mirochnik discussed visual influences drawn from the 1990s, as well as the team’s personal experiences growing up in Estonia following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Those influences, they said, helped shape the tone and setting of the game’s fictional world.
The most recent installment, Episode 2: Narrative, turns its attention to themes of identity and perception. Narrative Director Justin Keenan and writer Honey Watson joined Ashilevi to talk about the idea of masks — both literal and metaphorical — in espionage, and how uncovering what lies beneath those façades plays a central role in Zero Parades. The episode also features a guest appearance from audio engineer and casting director Mikee Goodman, who previously voiced several memorable characters in Disco Elysium.
IMPRINT – A ZA/UM Studio Devcast is available on major podcast platforms, including YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and Acast. ZA/UM Studio said future episodes will continue to rotate through different areas of development, such as audio, level design and character creation.
Zero Parades: For Dead Spies is currently slated for release in 2026 for PC and PlayStation 5. The game is available to wishlist now on Steam.
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