Most of the development team behind the Star Wars strategy game, Star Wars Outlaws, were furloughed in August, shortly before the title's August 28 release. The game, developed by Bit Reactor, received generally positive reviews following its launch.
Bit Reactor confirmed the furloughs to Game File, with sources suggesting approximately 80% of the Zero Company development team was affected. This action reportedly stemmed from a very tight $50 million budget that was nearly depleted by the time of the game's release. The limited funds even impacted the ability to add further animations, such as more lightsaber movements.
Furloughs differ from layoffs in that they involve placing employees on unpaid leave with the intention of potentially rehiring them later, rather than outright termination. The future path for Bit Reactor remains uncertain, compounded by a lawsuit involving co-founders Greg Foertsch and Alison Kelly. Documents related to this legal action reveal that Zero Company initially began as a pitch for an Apex Legends game before Respawn requested it be reworked as a Star Wars title.
According to claims made by Kelly in 2024, she was increasingly excluded from meetings and denied access to necessary work tools by Foertsch. She further alleges that Foertsch withheld financial information, granted himself benefits, and wrongfully terminated her employment. By the time Star Wars Outlaws was released, the studio had evidently exhausted its funds, leading to the widespread furloughs. The trial for the lawsuit is scheduled for early next year, and it is unclear if Bit Reactor will be able to secure the necessary finances to resume paying its developers.