Star Wars Zero Company Reveals Its Tactical Game Details

Bit Reactor’s upcoming tactical Star Wars adventure combines turn-based combat, deep customization, character relationships and a high-stakes campaign.

Star Wars Zero Company is on its way, and Bit Reactor's next tactical game is shaping up to be one of the most exciting Star Wars projects on the horizon. Fans have often dubbed the game “XCOM Star Wars,” and it's clear the tactical strategy genre inspired it, while it has its own rules, characters, and narrative focus. If you're a fan of turn-based combat or just want a different way to explore the Star Wars world, Zero Company could be worth keeping an eye out for.

One of the game’s main selling features is the emphasis on customization. Players will assume the role of Hawks, a former captain in the Grand Army of the Republic who now controls the Zero Company. Hawks are customizable, and the corporation itself will have both authored characters and bespoke operators. The operators you create are relevant to the main story and are added to your squad as you move through the campaign, while bespoke operators can be hired and customized, with varied looks, attire, voices, and names.

The cast is meant to give Zero Company a mixed bag of characters.

Among the characters are Trick, an old friend of Hawks and grizzled soldier; Telra Vocos, a Jedi Padawan; Clyvo, a surviving member of a Verminoth tribe; Luc Brone, a sharp-tongued sniper; and Jay Mortyn, a former mining baroness desperate to regain her home. Cabney “Cab” Cavercut, a veteran robber and former prize fighter, rounds out the list of authored operators, sporting a bionic arm.

The story centers on an off-the-books organization of mercenaries, misfits, former Separatists, and other unusual allies called Zero Company. Their goal is to face the Separatists and the Infinite Coil, a terrible dark-side sect that is trying to spread the Shadow Plague. The unknown ailment may augment physical strength and resilience, or it may kill those affected. Either way, the cult benefits when comrades fall in battle.

Bit Reactor is introducing character-driven elements, but the game's core remains tactical warfare. At the Den – Zero Company's main hub – players can connect with squadmates, building bonds and learning about their backgrounds. The game also includes third-person exploration elements, but Star Wars Zero Company won’t be a fully open-world game. This combination gives the campaign more structure than just moving from one combat to another.

The fighting system is pretty standard for anyone who’s played modern tactical strategy games. Combat is shown from an isometric view, and the entire player squad acts before the enemy has its turn. Each operator has three Action Points to use on mobility, attacks, and other actions. Weapons have varied AP costs; therefore, players must think carefully about whether to attack, reposition, or store resources for future moves.

Overwatch comes back as another essential tactical tool.

Operators can be placed in a customizable cone, where they’ll automatically fire on adversaries who enter the chosen area or perform an action within it. The cone's length affects accuracy, and spending more AP lets an operator target more foes. Environmental positioning matters, too. Taking cover will lower the odds of being hit, and a bad location can quickly leave an operator exposed.

Players can also employ med packs, concussion grenades, and character-specific powers to get an advantage. The Advantage resource adds another dimension to combat, letting players trigger strong effects like gaining extra AP, boosting squad accuracy, calling in a deadly rocket assault, or forcing foes to focus on a specific operative.

For gamers who allow for everlasting death, risk and reward will be more crucial than ever. If an operator runs out of health, they become injured and must be rallied by a teammate. Injuries harm battle performance, and having three injuries can lead to permanent death on standard difficulty. Hawks’ death is an immediate mission termination, but every other operator, including written characters, is theoretically disposable.

Players can also specialize their squad with different specializations such as Assault, Gunslinger, Heavy, Medic, Scoundrel, Scout, Sharpshooter, and Soldier. Picking the right combination for each assignment will be key, especially on harder difficulties. Outside of combat, the Den is the headquarters of Zero Company.

Players can recruit new operators, heal injuries, enhance facilities, change weaponry, and strengthen relationships.

The Hollow Table shows available operations and tactical tasks, many of which have time limits. Completing these activities can earn you credits, weapon modifications, utilities, Focus Points, and zone influence. Focus Points can be used in an operator's Focus Tree to unlock talents, abilities, and passive enhancements. The Medbay and Memorial facilities also support the squad, and you can add weapon modifications to change equipment performance.

Completing side content should bring players to around 30-40 hours of gameplay in the campaign, while completion duration will vary based on complexity and playstyle. The main story is mostly linear, with variety coming from team composition, character connections, decisions, and probable fatalities. There won’t be a New Game Plus mode at launch, but you'll be able to gain more personalization options on subsequent playthroughs.

Star Wars Zero Company is out August 27 for $49.99 on PC and $59.99 on platforms. A physical console edition will be available, but the disc will be incomplete and will require additional downloads. A Deluxe Edition will include cosmetic packs and weapon themes. Pre-orders come with extra cosmetic extras.