Star Wars Zero Company Developers Furloughed Just Weeks Before Launch
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Up to 80% of the development team behind the critically praised Star Wars Zero Company was furloughed just before launch after the studio ran out of money amid an internal lawsuit.
According to a report by Game File, up to 80% of the development staff at Bit Reactor were furloughed right before the release of Star Wars Zero Company. The studio reportedly ran out of money and could not make payroll, leading to the drastic measure of suspending most of the team without pay while leaving only a skeleton crew to support the tactical game at launch. Bit Reactor has clarified that the financial shortfall and subsequent furloughs were handled entirely by the studio and were not directed by publisher Electronic Arts or license holder Lucasfilm.
The timing is especially bitter because Star Wars Zero Company has earned some of the strongest critical praise for a Star Wars game in years. Built by veterans of Firaxis Games who previously worked on the XCOM series, the independent studio found itself in deep financial trouble just as its biggest project was hitting storefronts. Bit Reactor leadership has stated they hope to bring the furloughed staff back and restore full pay if the game achieves a successful commercial launch.
The root of the financial distress was also brought to light through an acrimonious legal battle between studio co-founders Alison Kelly and Greg Foertsch. Court filings from mid August revealed the extent of the studio money troubles alongside a twenty million dollar lawsuit concerning ownership stakes and allegations of unfair removal. For a player community celebrating a genuinely great addition to the Star Wars gaming canon, the news offers a stark reminder of the fragile financial realities that developers face behind the scenes, even when a title wins over critics and players alike.
Tags: Star Wars Zero Company, Bit Reactor, Industry News, PC Gaming, Console Gaming
Original article: Polygon