Star Wars Zero Company Launches to Acclaim as Developer Furloughs 80% of Staff

Star Wars Zero Company, the debut title from developer Bit Reactor, launched on August 27, 2026, to strong critical acclaim and commercial success, yet the majority of its development team was placed on furlough just before the release. According to a report from Game File, nearly 80 percent of the studio's staff were furloughed in the weeks leading up to the launch, leaving only a small skeleton crew to handle post-launch issues.

The furloughs were confirmed by a Bit Reactor representative, who described the move as a difficult decision made before the game's final performance was known. The representative stressed the decision was made entirely by Bit Reactor, not by publisher Electronic Arts or licensor Disney. The studio expressed hope that furloughed employees could be rehired with restored pay if the game performs well commercially. However, former senior technical artist Zachariah Scott, who departed the studio in May 2026, stated on LinkedIn that the team was furloughed weeks ago and accused management of concealing the situation while publicly celebrating the game's success.

Star Wars Zero Company received a 79 positive rating on Steam and an 85 on Metacritic, making it...