Bit Reactor Addresses Star Wars: Zero Company Queerness and the EA Acquisition
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
Bit Reactor discusses player expression in Star Wars: Zero Company and navigates questions surrounding EA's recent Saudi-backed acquisition.
As Bit Reactor prepares to launch its upcoming tactics RPG Star Wars: Zero Company, developer interviews are shedding light on both the game's design choices and the complicated reality of working under EA's new corporate ownership. In a recent beta build, players step into the shoes of a customizable protagonist named Hawks who defaults to they/them pronouns, alongside broader character options that allow for diverse gender expressions across various familiar alien species. Studio CEO and creative director Greg Foertsch emphasized that the goal is to give players the freedom to shape their own version of the Star Wars universe, framing inclusion as a tool for personal player expression rather than heavy-handed narrative messaging.
However, this creative freedom exists alongside growing industry conversations about corporate backing. The studio's publishing deal predates the massive acquisition of EA by an investor consortium heavily backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, a geopolitical shift that has left many players and creators questioning the ethics of major publisher funding streams. When asked about the buyout, Foertsch noted that the studio's day-to-day relationships with EA, Lucasfilm, and Respawn remain positive, while acknowledging that future partnerships are uncertain as the team focuses entirely on getting their debut project across the finish line.
Beyond the corporate and social discussions surrounding the game, early hands-on impressions of Star Wars: Zero Company suggest a mechanically sound tactics experience. The game trades sprawling maps and traditional fog of war for compact arenas and a refined view-cone overwatch system reminiscent of Gears Tactics, paired with a reliable backup mechanic that rewards smart squad positioning. As detailed by Rock Paper Shotgun, Bit Reactor caught a difficult break timing-wise, locked into a multi-year publishing agreement just as their publisher underwent a massive and controversial change in ownership.
Tags: Star Wars Zero Company, Bit Reactor, EA, Tactics RPG, Gaming News
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun