ZA/UM Studio Launches IMPRINT Devcast, Offering New Details on Zero Parades: For Dead Spies

Why It Matters

IMPRINT deepens community engagement and builds hype ahead of Zero Parades’ 2026 launch, leveraging ZA/UM’s reputation for narrative‑driven games. The podcast also showcases the studio’s commitment to transparent development, potentially influencing industry standards for indie communication.

Key Takeaways

• ZA/UM launches IMPRINT devcast podcast series.
• First episodes spotlight art direction and narrative themes.
• Zero Parades explores 1990s Estonian post‑Soviet aesthetics.
• Game slated for 2026 release on PC, PS5.
• Podcast available across major platforms for fan engagement.

Pulse Analysis

The rise of developer‑focused podcasts reflects a broader shift toward transparent, community‑first marketing in the games industry. By offering a regular, behind‑the‑scenes window into production, studios can nurture fan loyalty while gathering real‑time feedback. ZA/UM’s IMPRINT series taps into this trend, positioning the studio alongside peers like CD Projekt Red and Naughty Dog that have leveraged audio content to humanize their development pipelines and sustain interest during long production cycles.

Zero Parades: For Dead Spies builds on ZA/UM’s narrative pedigree, but pivots toward espionage set against a stylized 1990s Estonian backdrop. The art team draws on post‑Soviet cultural memory, infusing environments with gritty realism and subtle political commentary—a formula that resonated strongly with Disco Elysium fans. Narrative director Justin Keenan’s focus on masks and identity promises layered storytelling that could attract both RPG veterans and newcomers seeking fresh thematic depth, differentiating the title in a crowded market of fantasy‑heavy releases.

From a business perspective, the IMPRINT devcast serves as a low‑cost, high‑impact promotional engine. By distributing episodes across major platforms, ZA/UM reaches diverse audience segments while reinforcing brand authority. Early exposure helps secure pre‑orders and wishlist conversions, crucial for a mid‑tier studio aiming to fund future projects without heavy reliance on external publishers. If the podcast maintains momentum, it could set a benchmark for indie studios seeking sustainable audience growth through content‑driven engagement.

ZA/UM Studio Launches IMPRINT Devcast, Offering New Details on Zero Parades: For Dead Spies

John Popko · Feb 4, 2026

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.