Star Wars Zero Company Studio Begins Bringing Back Furloughed Developers

Bit Reactor has begun bringing back developers who were furloughed before the release of Star Wars Zero Company, following a difficult period for the studio behind the tactical strategy game.

The developer confirmed the move on October 7, with CEO Greg Foertsch describing it as an important step toward continued support for the game. According to Game File, Bit Reactor's paid workforce has now recovered to more than half its size before the furloughs.

However, the studio has not disclosed how many employees have returned, and a substantial portion of its workforce remains on furlough.

In a statement shared through Bit Reactor's official social media account, Foertsch confirmed that the company had started returning additional employees to work. He described the original furlough decision as extremely difficult, explaining that the studio faced unexpected business developments beyond its control shortly before launch.

According to Foertsch, the temporary staffing reductions were intended to give Bit Reactor an opportunity to eventually bring back as many employees as possible. He also thanked players for their response to Star Wars Zero Company and praised the development team's achievements.

Game File's Stephen Totilo reported that a person familiar with the situation confirmed the studio's paid headcount had risen above half its pre-furlough level.

That figure does not mean more than half of the furloughed employees have necessarily returned. It describes the studio's overall paid workforce compared with its size before the staffing reductions. Bit Reactor has not provided a timeline for reinstating the remaining employees.

The staffing problems emerged publicly in September, shortly after Star Wars Zero Company was released on August 27.

Game File originally reported that approximately 80% of Bit Reactor's workforce had been furloughed several weeks before launch. The estimate came from a source familiar with the situation, while the studio confirmed the furloughs without disclosing the exact number affected.

Unlike layoffs, furloughs allowed the developers to remain employed by Bit Reactor, although they were not receiving their regular pay or benefits. The company retained a small team to address technical problems and provide immediate post-launch support.

A Bit Reactor representative previously told Game File that the decision was made by the studio itself, rather than publisher Electronic Arts or Star Wars rights holder Disney.

The furloughs occurred before the game's commercial performance could be established, creating uncertainty for employees who had spent years developing the studio's debut project.

The latest staffing developments come after Star Wars Zero Company received a positive critical reception and attracted attention on Steam. Developed in collaboration with Respawn Entertainment and Lucasfilm Games, the single-player turn-based tactics game follows an unconventional squad operating during the final days of the Clone Wars.

It launched on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S on August 27. Despite operating with a reduced team, Bit Reactor released Patch 1.1 on September 9, addressing crashes, visual stuttering, and other technical issues.

Foertsch has linked the return of employees to the studio's continued support for the game. However, Bit Reactor has not announced new downloadable content, an expansion, or a detailed post-launch roadmap.

The company has also not clarified whether all furloughed developers will eventually return or whether its workforce will be restored to its previous size. Foertsch said Bit Reactor intends to share further updates about the studio and Star Wars Zero Company, but no timetable has been provided.