Majority of Team Behind Critically Acclaimed Star Wars Game Furloughed Pre-Launch
Reports indicate that nearly 80% of the development team at Bit Reactor, the studio behind the tactical game Star Wars Zero Company, was furloughed weeks prior to the game’s launch.
Furloughing means that employees are temporarily laid off and may receive reduced or no pay. This strategy, often used during the COVID-19 pandemic, is typically a last resort when a company faces financial difficulties and cannot meet payroll obligations.
Bit Reactor confirmed that a significant portion of its team had been furloughed, emphasizing that this decision was made independently by the studio and was not influenced by EA or Lucasfilm, the holder of the Star Wars license. The studio expressed hope to reinstate furloughed employees and restore their pay following a successful launch of Star Wars Zero Company. It seems that Bit Reactor encountered financial issues before the game could start generating revenue.
Bit Reactor is an independent studio formed by former developers from Firaxis Games, known for the XCOM series. They collaborated with EA’s Respawn Entertainment, recognized for Star Wars Jedi and Apex Legends, on Star Wars Zero Company.
A lawsuit revealed on August 12 indicated that “most” of Bit Reactor’s employees were furloughed and that contractors had been let go. Sources confirmed that 80% of the team was affected, leaving only a small group to support the game during its launch.
The lawsuit involves a contentious dispute between Bit Reactor’s co-founders, Alison Kelly, the former chief operating officer, and Greg Foertsch, the game’s creative director. Kelly claims co-ownership of the studio, while Foertsch asserts he is the sole owner. Kelly alleges she was forced out and is seeking $20 million in damages.
This is a challenging and unfortunate period for the team behind Zero Company, which received a positive critical response upon its release last week. Zero Company is now regarded as one of the best-reviewed Star Wars games in recent years.
