Bit Reactor, the studio behind the upcoming XCOM-style tactics RPG Star Wars: Zero Company, has addressed the game's support for player-created characters using they/them pronouns and its publisher's recent acquisition by a Saudi-led consortium. Creative director Greg Foertsch stated that the inclusion of customizable pronouns for the player character, Hawks, is intended to allow players to represent themselves as they wish within their "Star Wars story."
"There's no canon Hawks, per se," Foertsch explained in an interview. "There's one on the box cover just for a marketing perspective, but it's like, allowing people to explore Star Wars in a way that they want to do it, whether it's a combination [of characteristics] that is very unique or something that's a little more predictable."
However, the conversation also turned to EA's recent acquisition by an investor consortium including Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. This acquisition has drawn scrutiny due to Saudi Arabia's human rights record, including its treatment of women and queer individuals. When asked about these concerns, Foertsch acknowledged that the developer's publishing deal with EA was established years before the acquisition and that their focus remains on the game's release.
"Our relationship with EA has been great," Foertsch said. "Our relationship with Lucasfilm is also amazing. It's more about the people we work with. So yeah, time will tell. I mean, right now - like you said, our deal with them is from way before any of this, and the political part is not something that we have given a lot of thought to, at this point. We're trying to get this thing out the door, so all that paint is pretty fresh."
He added that the team has "absolutely love[d] the support" from EA and Lucasfilm, emphasizing positive relationships with the individuals involved. Representatives from EA were present during the interview but remained silent on the matter. The author of the notes noted that while the game offers mild inclusivity rhetoric, the broader political implications of EA's new ownership remain a significant question for the industry.
Star Wars: Zero Company features a gameplay mechanic where players can enlist a squadmate for a follow-up attack each turn, which can assist in scoring damage even if the initial strike misses. The game also utilizes a focused overwatch system, similar to Gears Tactics, where characters can lock down specific angles of approach with a view cone that affects accuracy based on its length. Maps are designed to be relatively compact, with no fog of war to obscure enemy positions.