Bit Reactor, a studio founded by veterans of Firaxis Games, is preparing to launch its debut title, Star Wars Zero Company, a turn-based tactics game that draws clear inspiration from the XCOM series. The studio, established in 2021 by former Firaxis employees including director Greg Foertsch, leveraged their extensive experience in developing acclaimed titles like XCOM: Enemy Unknown and XCOM 2 to create a new tactical experience within the Star Wars universe.
A New Story in a Familiar Era
The game is set during the Clone Wars, a period rich with established lore that Bit Reactor aims to leverage while introducing a fresh narrative. "The fact that there is so much stuff surrounding the Clone Wars allows us to put our story in that Clone Wars bubble, and it can kind of exist inside of this thing," explained Foertsch. This approach allows the game to incorporate familiar elements for Star Wars fans while telling a new story about Hawks, the customizable leader of a mercenary group called Zero Company. The company finds itself entangled with a fanatical cult known as The Infinite Coil, which aligns with the Separatists.
Tactical Combat and Emergent Storytelling
Star Wars Zero Company's core gameplay revolves around turn-based tactical combat, where squad management and strategic decisions are paramount. Players recruit and develop a diverse roster of characters, each with unique personalities and abilities. The game incorporates permadeath, meaning that character losses have permanent consequences, contributing to emergent storytelling. "The narrative team did an awesome job on that," Foertsch said regarding the character archetypes and their balance with player customization. "We wanted to make sure that the characters provided some archetypes for people to latch to and are familiar with, but weren't so heavy that you couldn't attach."
Beyond the tactical grid, players manage their base, upgrade equipment, and recruit new members. The game also features occasional third-person exploration sequences, particularly within the player's base, which aim to enhance immersion and provide a Mass Effect-like connection to the characters. Despite the emphasis on tactical depth, the developers have also ensured robust controller support, with Foertsch noting, "We've considered controller just as much as we've considered keyboard and mouse."
Potential and Challenges
While the preview build showcased compelling tactical combat and a promising narrative framework, concerns were raised regarding mission variety. Many missions, though set in well-designed maps, primarily involved eliminating enemies or reaching an extraction point. However, instances of rescue missions and espionage sequences offered glimpses into potential gameplay diversity. The developers are banking on the Star Wars IP and the team's pedigree to attract a wider audience to the tactics genre, challenging the notion that it is a niche market. "Our mission is to challenge that space, the thought that these games are niche; they're not, and we're about to bring the biggest franchise in the world to it," Foertsch stated.
Star Wars Zero Company is slated for release on August 27 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, with EA and Lucasfilm Games serving as publisher and Respawn Entertainment providing development support.