Bit Reactor, the studio behind the recently released strategy game Star Wars Zero Company, is rehiring a number of employees it previously furloughed. The move comes after a report indicated that 80% of the development team had been let go shortly after the game's launch.
In a statement posted on X, Bit Reactor CEO Greg Foerstch announced that the studio is taking steps to bring back members of the development team, describing it as "an important step forward in our continued support for Zero Company."
"Having to ask team members to step away after we navigated unexpected business developments outside of our control and so close to launch was an incredibly difficult decision, but one that was necessary to help us eventually bring as many people back as possible," Foerstch wrote. He added that the studio looks forward to sharing more updates on both Bit Reactor and Zero Company soon.
According to Bit Reactor, the initial furloughs were not related to publisher EA or Disney. The studio had expressed hope that Zero Company's strong launch would allow them to re-establish their full team. Prior to this positive update, a lawsuit filing had brought details of Bit Reactor's internal disputes and financial situation to light. The legal documents revealed a disagreement between co-founders Greg Foerstch and Alison Kelly over company ownership, with Kelly seeking $20 million in damages.
So far, Star Wars Zero Company has primarily received patches focused on bug fixes and performance improvements, with the 1.1 Patch released on September 9th addressing various gameplay issues. While official plans for major expansions have not been detailed, Foerstch's comments suggest ongoing support and potential future content for the game. In the interim, fans have begun creating their own additions, such as the unofficial expansion Aftermath mod, which extends the game's content with new challenges and characters.