Bit Reactor, the development studio behind the newly released Star Wars Zero Company, has reportedly furloughed up to 80 percent of its staff in the weeks preceding the game's August 27 launch. This action comes despite the game receiving critical acclaim, achieving the highest Metacritic score for a Star Wars title in 22 years.
Zachariah Scott, a former Bit Reactor developer, expressed dismay on LinkedIn, stating, "It is sick and weird to have all of these EA and Disney folks as well as Bit Reactor Senior staff making all of these 10/10 posts about Star Wars Zero Company being such a huge success and praising the work of the team while seemingly concealing the fact that the team was furloughed weeks ago." A studio representative confirmed the furloughs to Game File but did not disclose the exact number of employees affected. Currently, a "skeleton crew" remains to address post-launch issues and bugs.
This situation is further complicated by an ongoing lawsuit initiated by Bit Reactor's former chief operating officer, Alison Kelly. Kelly accuses studio co-founder Greg Foertsch of forcing her out and denying her an equal ownership stake. Foertsch has denied these allegations through his legal team, who argue that Kelly's role was diminished due to poor performance. The legal dispute is not scheduled for trial until 2027, leaving the future of Bit Reactor and its staff uncertain.
The critical success of Star Wars Zero Company, a joint venture with Respawn Entertainment and published by Electronic Arts, is highlighted by its strong early reviews. However, sales figures and the revenue needed to re-employ furloughed staff remain undisclosed. The ongoing legal entanglements and the furloughing of its development team raise questions about the potential for a sequel and EA's future involvement with the studio.