Star Wars Zero Company developer Bit Reactor has begun rehiring staff who were furloughed prior to the game's release. According to reports, the studio has returned more than half of its previous headcount to payroll, with studio boss Greg Foertsch expressing a desire to "eventually bring as many people back as possible."
"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," Foertsch stated in a social media announcement. He added, "This team means a tremendous amount to me, and I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together. Thank you to our fans for the incredible response to the game and for supporting us along this journey. We look forward to sharing more updates regarding Bit Reactor and Zero Company soon."
Previous reports indicated that most of the studio's staff had been furloughed, with a small number remaining employed to address immediate post-launch issues for Zero Company. While the number of staff now back on payroll exceeds half of the pre-furlough figures, a portion of the development team remains without pay.
The furloughs initially came to light due to an ongoing lawsuit between Foertsch and former Bit Reactor COO Alison Kelly. The legal dispute centers on allegations that Foertsch pushed Kelly out of the company and the question of whether she was a co-owner. The case is expected to proceed to trial next year.
The studio has not provided specific numbers regarding the total staff affected by the furloughs. Developers still on furlough are hopefully being compensated soon, either by Bit Reactor or another studio if they are not reintegrated into the company.