Ethan Crossfield 
Star Wars Zero Company launched to strong reviews and quickly reached the top of Steam’s sales charts, yet the debut arrived under far more difficult circumstances than players may have realized. Reports indicate that Bit Reactor furloughed a significant share of its workforce only weeks before release, leaving much of the team without pay as the studio waited to learn whether its first game would succeed.
What happened at Bit Reactor
Game File’s Stephen Totilo reported that Bit Reactor furloughed many employees several weeks before Star Wars Zero Company launched on August 27 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. A studio representative confirmed that a substantial number of workers were affected, describing the move as a difficult internal decision made before the company knew how the game would perform commercially.
Bit Reactor also emphasized that the furloughs were decided by the studio rather than EA or Disney, the Star Wars license holder. The company has not disclosed an exact figure. However, an August 12 court filing says most employees were furloughed and contractors were terminated. Sources cited in the report offered different estimates, including one suggesting that roughly 80% of the development team was affected. Another said only a small group remained on payroll, primarily to address issues emerging after launch.
Why the timing matters
The furloughs reportedly followed a severe cash shortage. Bit Reactor had spent years developing its debut title, a turn-based tactical RPG set during The Clone Wars, but apparently reached a point where it could no longer maintain its full payroll before launch revenue was known.
That timing creates a sharp contrast with the game’s public reception. Star Wars Zero Company was quickly recognized as one of the better-reviewed Star Wars games, and its early performance on Steam suggested meaningful commercial interest. Former senior technical artist Zachariah Scott later said he had spoken with nearly a dozen current workers who described being furloughed around three weeks before release.
Bit Reactor has indicated that it hopes to restore pay and bring employees back. Scott, however, said some workers were uncertain whether everyone would return to their former roles. A successful game can improve a studio’s financial position, but it does not automatically reverse the disruption caused by months without work or income.
What to watch next
The studio’s future is also tied to an ongoing legal dispute between co-founders Alison Kelly and Greg Foertsch. Kelly, Bit Reactor’s former COO, sued after leaving the company in 2024, claiming she was pushed out and remained a co-owner. Her case includes breach-of-contract and unjust-enrichment allegations, with more than $20 million in damages sought. Foertsch’s side disputes her ownership claim and has made allegations about her job performance, which Kelly denies.
The trial, originally planned for June 2026, has been postponed until early 2027. The case has exposed details about Bit Reactor’s finances at a moment when the studio’s game appears to be performing well. The key questions now are whether that performance generates enough stability to restore the team, how many furloughed workers return, and whether Bit Reactor can support Star Wars Zero Company after launch.
Key takeaways
- Bit Reactor reportedly furloughed a large portion of its workforce before launch.
- An August 12 court filing described most employees as furloughed and contractors as terminated.
- The studio, rather than EA or Disney, made the furlough decision.
- Star Wars Zero Company launched on August 27 and soon became Steam’s top-selling game.
- Bit Reactor hopes a successful release will allow it to restore pay and recall workers.
Expert View
Bit Reactor’s situation is a reminder that a successful launch can conceal serious financial strain. Strong reviews and immediate sales momentum matter, but they arrive too late to protect a team when a studio runs short of cash during development. For players, the most important sign of success will not be the game’s early chart position; it will be whether Bit Reactor can keep supporting the release and reunite the developers who built it.
