Bit Reactor furloughed "many of its workers" in the weeks before Star Wars Zero Company's launch

GamesIndustry.biz reports that Bit Reactor furloughed many of its workers in the weeks before Star Wars Zero Company shipped, leaving only a skeleton crew to handle post-launch issues. A studio representative called it a difficult decision made before launch results were known, and said it was not prompted by Electronic Arts or Disney.

The timing makes the story especially notable for developers because Zero Company has landed well with players and critics and is currently sitting near the top of Steam’s sales charts. Even so, sources told Game File that roughly 80% of the studio’s staff were sent home after Bit Reactor reportedly ran through most of its funding just ahead of its first game’s release.

Former senior technical artist Zachariah Scott said the team had been working under very tight budgets, with requests for more lightsaber animation reportedly turned down for lack of money. He also said founder Greg Foertsch was looking for a new game deal to keep the studio afloat, and described the project as having been built with “shocking austerity.”

Bit Reactor says it hopes to bring furloughed workers back if the launch performs well, but Scott said people he spoke with were skeptical that everyone would return. The furloughs also echo claims in a 2024 lawsuit from former COO Alison Kelly, which alleges contractors were terminated and raises a broader ownership dispute inside the studio.