Star Wars Zero Company Devs Face Layoffs After Strong Launch

The acclaimed tactical Star Wars game appears to have launched successfully, but reports suggest most of Bit Reactor’s team was furloughed before release, raising serious questions about the studio’s future.

Tactical strategy game lovers are delighted by the introduction of Star Wars Zero Company. Developed by Bit Reactor, the game has drawn strong reactions from critics and fans alike, with many applauding its approach to the tactical genre and its use of the Star Wars universe. But behind the favorable reception, the company apparently faced major financial difficulties that led to many workers being let go shortly before launch.

According to a report, Bit Reactor furloughed several staff members weeks before Zero Company launched. A studio rep stated the decision came from within the studio and was not mandated by publisher EA or Disney. The studio reportedly decided before it was clear how the game would fare after release.

It's less clear how far the crisis goes; however, one source said some 80% of Bit Reactor’s workforce was affected.

Another insider said the studio was left with “pretty much a skeleton crew” to deal with post-launch difficulties and glitches. The story also points to an unreported complaint involving Bit Reactor co-founder Allison Kelly, who filed a new lawsuit this week, noting that most workers had been furloughed and contractors let go.

The conditions are especially interesting considering that Star Wars Zero Company seems to have done well right after release. After release, the game swiftly climbed to the top of Steam’s sales charts, and its feedback has been mostly good. While there’s no official word on sales figures, the game’s strong opening does raise the question of whether it may ultimately hit some sort of big sales milestone.

That makes the stated financial troubles all the harder to grasp from the outside. Bit Reactor was started in 2021, and its first significant release was Zero Company. But the article also claims the studio had already burned through most of its available cash just before the game shipped, putting it in a tough spot despite ultimately releasing the project.

Zachariah Scott, a senior technical illustrator, mentioned in a report that some staff were unclear if furloughed personnel would return to their old posts soon. That uncertainty might become one of the main concerns about Bit Reactor, especially if the studio doesn't rehire much of the staff behind Zero Company.

It would be easy to comprehend if Zero Company had launched to bad reviews, or simply failed to attract players.

Instead, the game seems to have received the kind of welcome a new tactical series would aspire for. Its mix of Star Wars, turn-based warfare, and seasoned developer skill has helped it stand out in a rather niche genre. XCOM-inspired games have also proved that tactical games can sell in large numbers when they find the proper audience. 

A 10-million-copy blockbuster was probably never on the cards for Zero Company, but a few million sales over its life span might conceivably make it a solid success for a project of this nature. And that's why the prospect of losing a significant chunk of the development staff is so troubling. Bit Reactor is apparently packed with veterans experienced in tactical games, so losing a big percentage of the crew might mean losing years of specialized knowledge.

It would take a long time to rebuild that skill, even with more funding. The big concern for fans is no longer whether Bit Reactor can survive. It’s about whether the team that made Star Wars Zero Company great is still around for whatever comes after. If those rumored furloughs end and staff members return, Bit Reactor may be able to use the game's success as a springboard for future endeavors.

But a major exodus of the old staff could hurt the studio’s confidence in the future game. Bit Reactor’s Star Wars Zero Company suggests the studio knows how to produce an engaging tactical game. The sad irony is that those who are meant to prove that ability may suddenly be uncertain of their own destiny. For players who want to see more from Bit Reactor, returning that experience could be just as crucial as raising the money needed for the studio’s next project.