Bit Reactor Brings Back Some Furloughed Staff for Star Wars Zero Company

Ever wondered what happens when a game studio furloughs most of its team right before launch? Bit Reactor, the developer behind Star Wars Zero Company, is now bringing some of those workers back. CEO Greg Foertsch announced on October 7 that a portion of the furloughed staff has returned to continue supporting the game.

The furloughs hit hard—around 80% of employees were affected just before Zero Company launched in August 2026. Foertsch explained that the decision was necessary to "help us eventually bring as many people back as possible." He called the returns an "important step forward" in the studio's "continued support for Zero Company" and promised more updates "soon."

In his post, Foertsch didn't shy away from how tough it was. "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," he wrote. "This team means a tremendous amount to me, and I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together." He also thanked fans for their "incredible response to the game."

Despite the staffing turmoil, Star Wars Zero Company has been a critical darling. It launched to rave reviews, including a nine out of ten from IGN, which praised it as an "excellent tactical game" with a cinematic feel reminiscent of Respawn's Star Wars Jedi titles. The game also stood out for focusing on non-Force users and a non-traditional villain.

But not everyone is back yet. Sources told GameFile that Bit Reactor's current payrolled staff now account for "more than half of what it had been ahead of the furloughs," meaning a sizeable chunk of furloughed workers still aren't getting paid. That's a sobering reminder of the instability that's become all too common in game development—recent reports showed even Gears of War: E-Day developers feared layoffs after crunching hard.

This is just the latest twist for Zero Company. GameFile previously uncovered legal documents revealing the game was initially pitched as a Titanfall universe title with ties to Apex Legends. That pitch never materialized, but it's fun to imagine what could have been.

For now, the partial return of staff is a positive sign for the game's ongoing support. Will you be jumping back into Zero Company? What do you think about the studio's handling of the situation? Let us know in the comments.