Developers at Bit Reactor, the studio behind the recently released Star Wars: Zero Company, have reportedly been furloughed without pay. According to a report from Game File, "most" of the development team were impacted by these furloughs just weeks prior to the game's launch.
The report cites a source indicating that approximately 80% of the development team were affected, remaining employees of Bit Reactor but without receiving salaries. This decision was allegedly made as the studio ran low on funds preceding the release of Zero Company. A small number of developers were kept on payroll to address any post-launch issues.
A Bit Reactor spokesperson told Game File that the decision to furlough staff was made solely by the studio and not influenced by publishers EA. The studio expressed hope that furloughed staff could eventually be returned to the payroll, suggesting that the success of Zero Company's launch could be a factor in this possibility.
Further complicating the situation, a former technical artist, Zachariah Scott, has accused Bit Reactor of "concealing" the furloughs. Scott, who claims he was fired under contentious circumstances in May, told Game File that some furloughed staff expressed doubt about everyone returning to their previous roles even if the studio is able to rehire some employees.
The revelations of these furloughs have emerged amidst ongoing legal action between Bit Reactor's co-founders, Greg Foertsch and Alison Kelly, concerning studio ownership. The trial is scheduled for early 2027, with both parties currently involved in filing and responding to various claims against each other.