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Bit Reactor Starts Bringing Back Furloughed Staff After Star Wars Zero Company
The studio behind Star Wars Zero Company says it has begun returning furloughed developers to work, with a report putting payroll back above half its pre-furlough size.
Bit Reactor, the studio behind EA's turn-based tactics game Star Wars Zero Company, has started bringing furloughed developers back to work. It is a welcome turn after a report last month that more than 80% of the studio's staff had been furloughed, leaving only a skeleton crew to support a game that players and critics had warmly received.
What was announced
In a statement shared on social media, Bit Reactor CEO Greg Foertsch said: "This week, we started the process of returning more of our team back to work at Bit Reactor, an important step forward in our continued support for Zero Company."
The studio did not say how many people are returning. According to Game File, a source familiar with the situation said Bit Reactor's payroll is now back to more than half of what it was before the furloughs. That means many people are returning, but a meaningful number of developers who were suspended without pay are still waiting.
When the furloughs were first reported, Foertsch said the decision came in response to "unexpected business developments outside of our control," and that it was necessary "to help us eventually bring as many people back as possible." Game File also reported that the decision was Bit Reactor's, not publisher EA's.
Key details
- Studio: Bit Reactor (CEO Greg Foertsch)
- Game: Star Wars Zero Company, a single-player turn-based tactics game set during the Clone Wars
- Publisher: Electronic Arts
- Released: August 27, 2026 on PC (Steam) at $49.99
- Furlough: more than 80% of staff, reported last month
- Now: staff returning; payroll reportedly back above half its earlier size
The open questions
Game Developer points out that furloughs sit in a grey area under US Department of Labor rules, which don't require companies to disclose numbers unless workers are actually laid off. Neither Bit Reactor's statement nor the reporting says whether returning or still-furloughed staff will share in the game's success through profit sharing, a concern a former employee raised on LinkedIn.
That success is real. Star Wars Zero Company climbed Steam's best-seller list after launch, and PC Gamer's review called it "a new all-timer Star Wars game and a stunning debut for Bit Reactor."
What it means for developers
- A hit doesn't guarantee stability. Bit Reactor shipped a well-reviewed licensed game with a major publisher and still had to furlough most of its team. Cash flow and contract terms matter as much as reviews.
- Know how your payments land. For studios working with publishers, the gap between launch and milestone or royalty payments can be the most dangerous stretch. Plan runway for the months after release, not just up to it.
- Furlough is not layoff. If you are an employee, understand the difference: furloughed staff often keep their jobs on paper but go unpaid, and companies may not have to disclose numbers.
- Post-launch support needs people. Patches and updates are hard to deliver with a skeleton crew, so bringing staff back is also good news for Zero Company players.
Sources
Cover image: © Electronic Arts / Lucasfilm.
