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‘Most’ of Star Wars Zero Company studio Bit Reactor was furloughed ahead of launch
Game File | Stephen Totilo • • technology
Key Points:
- Bit Reactor, a Maryland-based game studio founded in 2021, released its debut tactical combat game, Star Wars Zero Company, on August 27 to critical acclaim and strong sales, becoming the top-selling game on Steam.
- Despite the game's success, the majority of Bit Reactor's staff were furloughed weeks before launch due to the studio running out of funds, with reports indicating up to 80% of employees affected and only a skeleton crew remaining on payroll.
- The furlough decision was made internally by Bit Reactor and not influenced by publisher EA or Disney, with the studio expressing hope to reinstate furloughed workers depending on the game's financial performance.
- Bit Reactor is embroiled in a legal dispute between co-founders Greg Foertsch and Alison Kelly, who filed a lawsuit in 2024 alleging wrongful ousting and ownership claims, with a trial postponed to early 2027 amid ongoing depositions and counterclaims.
- Court filings reveal the studio's early ambitions, its breakthrough with EA, and internal conflicts, providing insight into the complex background of the company behind the well-received Zero Company.
