Star Wars Zero Company launched on PS5 and other platforms last week, and it appears the turn-based strategy game has been a success for publisher EA and developer Bit Reactor.
Certainly, the critical reception has been very good, players rate it highly, and it’s currently one of Steam’s top sellers — all good signs.
Unfortunately, it seems Bit Reactor itself has had quite a tumultuous time of it in the weeks leading up to the game’s release.
In a report from Game File, it’s revealed the studio furloughed most of its staff in the lead-up to launch.
A furlough is basically a temporary, unpaid period of leave. Your job is not lost, but you do not receive payment until the furlough is over.
According to one source, around 80 per cent of the staff at Bit Reactor are currently in this position. Another source said the studio has retained a “skeleton crew” to continue ironing out bugs in Zero Company.
It seems the studio essentially ran out of money weeks ahead of the game’s launch, which led to the call to furlough much of its staff.
The report says the decision came from Bit Reactor itself — it seems EA or any other party were not involved in that regard.
The move was made before it was clear how the game’s launch would go, according to a spokesperson for the studio. The rep says Bit Reactor hopes to restore furloughed staff, though it’s not clear whether everyone affected will be brought back.
On top of the studio’s financial troubles and furloughed staff situation, it’s also at the centre of a lawsuit. In 2024, co-founder Alison Kelly alleged she was “pushed out” of Bit Reactor, and the suit boils down to whether or not she’s a co-owner of the business alongside Greg Foertsch.
This dispute is still going on, with a trial postponed until early 2027. In the meantime, there’s been a back-and-forth of claims and denials.
In other words, Bit Reactor’s in kinda rough shape right now. The silver lining is the successful arrival of Star Wars Zero Company, which will hopefully do well enough to revive the furloughed staff.
Have you been playing the game? Tell us in the comments section below.