Star Wars Zero Company Studio Rehires Furloughed Devs After Huge Fan Support

Ever wondered what happens when a game you love gets great reviews but the studio behind it still struggles? That's the story with Star Wars Zero Company developer Bit Reactor, which furloughed staff right before launch due to budget issues. But now, there's good news: the studio is actively returning more of its team to work.

In a post on Bluesky, Bit Reactor CEO Greg Foertsch confirmed that the de-furloughing began this week, calling it "an important step in our continued support for Zero Company." He explained that having to ask team members to step away after "unexpected business developments out of our control" was an "incredibly difficult decision," but one that was necessary to eventually bring as many people back as possible.

So, what exactly is a furlough? Unlike layoffs, which are permanent job cuts, a furlough is a period of unpaid absence or reduced hours. It's typically used to cut costs during financial hardship. Game File's Stephen Totilo reports that "over half" of the team has now returned. It's still unclear how many, if any, developers might be laid off at the end of this process.

Despite the behind-the-scenes turmoil, Star Wars Zero Company has been a critical success. It earned some of the strongest reviews of any Star Wars game in recent years, sitting at a comfortable 84 on Metacritic. On Steam, it holds a "very positive" rating. We called it a solid strategy RPG, and it's clear the game resonated with players.

Foertsch didn't hold back his gratitude: "This team means a tremendous amount to me, and I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together," he said. "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."

It's a bittersweet situation—a great game that deserved better stability for its makers. But seeing the team get back on its feet is a win worth celebrating. With over half the team back and more updates promised, the future looks brighter for Bit Reactor and Zero Company.

What do you think about this turn of events? Are you glad to see the devs returning? Let us know in the comments!