Bit Reactor, the developer of 'Star Wars: Zero Company', placed a large portion of its staff on unpaid leave prior to the game's release. While the studio explained that this was a difficult decision made before launch performance could be seen, the scope and timing of employees' return remain undetermined.
| 📒 | - Furloughs confirmed for numerous employees prior to launch - Game File source: "Around 80% of team affected" - Scope of returnees and timeline for resuming pay remain undecided |
Foreign gaming outlet Game File reported on the 1st that it directly confirmed the furloughs with a Bit Reactor spokesperson. The studio stated that the measure was Bit Reactor's own decision, rather than an instruction from publisher Electronic Arts (EA) or Disney/Lucasfilm.
Written submissions filed on August 12 in a lawsuit brought by Bit Reactor co-founder Alison Kelly stated that the company had placed most of its staff on unpaid leave and terminated contracts with contract workers. However, the exact number of furloughed employees was not disclosed.
Details regarding the specific scale emerged through Game File's reporting with insiders. One source reported that approximately 80% of the team was impacted by the furloughs. Another source explained that only a minimal staff remained on payroll to handle potential bugs after the release of 'Star Wars: Zero Company'.
Zachariah Scott, a former senior technical artist who left the studio in May, also stated in a call with Game File that he had reached out to about a dozen employees. According to Scott, all of them said they had been notified of their furloughs weeks before the game's release.
Financial difficulties were cited as the primary reason for the furloughs. Game File reported that Bit Reactor, founded in 2021, had exhausted most of its cash reserves ahead of launching its debut game.
'Star Wars: Zero Company' is a single-player turn-based tactical game developed by Bit Reactor and published by EA. Following a collaboration with Lucasfilm Games, it launched on August 27 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Bit Reactor stated that it hopes to bring employees back and resume payroll depending on the game's post-launch performance. However, it remains unconfirmed how many furloughed employees will be able to return to work, or when.
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