Star Wars Zero Company developer Bit Reactor welcomes back some furloughed staff

Bit Reactor has begun bringing furloughed employees back to the studio following the successful launch of Star Wars Zero Company.

Bit Reactor has begun bringing some furloughed employees back to the team following the launch of Star Wars Zero Company, with the studio saying the move marks an important step in its continued support for the Star Wars strategy game.

CEO Greg Foertsch confirmed the news in a public statement on Wednesday (07.10.26), revealing that some staff members had returned after being placed on furlough shortly before the game’s release.

Foertsch said the furloughs had been necessary to “help us eventually bring as many people back as possible”, while describing the return of staff as an “important step forward” for Bit Reactor.

Foertsch said: “We look forward to sharing more updates about the game soon.”

The CEO also acknowledged how difficult the decision to furlough employees had been, particularly with Zero Company so close to launch.

Foertsch wrote: “Having to ask team members to step away after we navigated unexpected business developments outside of our control and so close to launch was an incredibly difficult decision.

“This team means a tremendous amount to me, and I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together.”

Sources told GameFile that Bit Reactor’s current payroll now represents “more than half” of the studio’s pre-furlough workforce.

That means a significant number of employees remain on unpaid leave despite the latest round of returns.

Around 80 per cent of Bit Reactor’s staff were reportedly furloughed before Star Wars Zero Company’s August launch, making the situation particularly striking given the game’s strong reception.

Zero Company received widespread praise from critics, including a nine out of 10 from IGN, which described it as an “excellent tactical game” that successfully captures the cinematic feel of Respawn’s Star Wars Jedi games while focusing on non-Force users.

The situation highlights the continued instability facing the games industry, where developers can face layoffs or furloughs even around the release of well-received projects.

Zero Company has also attracted attention for its unusual origins.

Legal documents uncovered by GameFile revealed that the game was initially pitched as a project set within the Titanfall universe, with links to Apex Legends, before ultimately becoming a Star Wars title.

For now, Bit Reactor appears focused on keeping Zero Company moving forward, while its latest announcement offers hope that more of the developers behind the game could eventually return.