Star Wars Zero Company dev Bit Reactor furloughed most staff before launch
The studio behind the hit new game Star Wars Zero Company reportedly furloughed the vast majority of its staff just weeks before the game's successful launch. According to a Game File report covered by IGN and VGC, around 80% of developer Bit Reactor's employees were placed on unpaid leave.
Bit Reactor confirmed to Game File that it had furloughed many workers, a decision it said was its own and not related to publisher EA or Disney. Per the report, the studio ran out of money shortly before launch, leaving only a skeleton crew to handle post-release bugs. A former employee, Zachariah Scott, claimed the company was "concealing" the furloughs while senior staff celebrated the game's success.
The situation is unfolding amid a messy legal battle between the studio's co-founders. Eurogamer reports that co-founder Alison Kelly alleges she was pushed out of the company by Greg Foertsch, who claims sole ownership. A trial in that lawsuit is set for 2027.
Despite the internal turmoil, Star Wars Zero Company has been a critical and commercial hit, topping Steam's sales charts and receiving widespread praise. Bit Reactor has expressed hope that the game's success will allow it to bring furloughed staff back, but former employees are reportedly skeptical about everyone returning.
One intriguing claim from the legal filings, noted by IGN, is that the project originally began as a Titanfall spinoff concept before Respawn's Zince Zampella suggested switching it to a Star Wars game.
What real people think of Star Wars Zero Company →
