Star Wars Zero Company, the debut title from Bit Reactor, has earned the strongest launch reviews for a Star Wars game in 22 years. However, reports indicate that a large portion of the development team was furloughed shortly before release.
Former Bit Reactor developer Zachariah Scott wrote on LinkedIn that it was troubling to see Electronic Arts, Disney and Bit Reactor executives celebrate the game publicly while the team’s furloughs were apparently not being discussed.
Most of the studio reportedly furloughed
A report by Game File claims that up to 80 percent of Bit Reactor employees were furloughed in the weeks before the game’s August 27 launch. A furlough generally means unpaid leave rather than a formal termination.
The report says a small “skeleton crew” remained to handle post-launch bugs and other technical problems. Bit Reactor confirmed that furloughs had occurred but did not disclose how many employees were affected.
The decision was reportedly made before the game received its unusually strong early reviews. The turn-based title, which follows the tactical approach associated with XCOM, achieved the highest Metacritic score of any Star Wars game at launch since Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II – Sith Lords in 2004.
Sales and sequel plans remain uncertain
Star Wars Zero Company was developed through a joint venture involving Bit Reactor and Respawn Entertainment, with Electronic Arts publishing. Sales figures have not been disclosed, and there is no public information about how many copies would be required for the studio to resume paying furloughed staff or offer performance bonuses.
The situation also appears in a lawsuit brought by former Bit Reactor chief operating officer Alison Kelly. She alleges that cofounder Greg Foertsch pushed her out of the business and denied her an equal ownership interest.
Foertsch has rejected those allegations. His legal representatives argue that Kelly’s responsibilities were reduced because of poor performance, and described her claims about access to company records, financial benefits and termination as groundless in court filings.
A company facing an uncertain future
The case is not scheduled to reach trial until 2027. Until then, it remains unclear what form Bit Reactor will take, whether furloughed employees will receive further payments, or whether the dispute could affect plans for a potential Zero Company sequel.
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