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What Is Star Wars Zero Company?
Star Wars Zero Company is a canon single-player turn-based tactics video game set during the Clone Wars era, between Episode II: Attack of the Clones and Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. It's developed by Bit Reactor — a studio founded by former Firaxis Games developers known for the XCOM reboot series — in collaboration with Respawn Entertainment and published by Electronic Arts alongside Lucasfilm Games.
The title was officially unveiled on April 14, 2025, with the first trailer premiering at Star Wars Celebration Japan on April 19, 2025. However, the project was initially announced in January 2022 as an unnamed Star Wars strategy game, alongside Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and an FPS project (which was ultimately cancelled in March 2024).
Gameplay: Deep Strategy Across the Galaxy
Zero Company's gameplay is built around turn-based combat from a third-person perspective, with cinematic sequences between missions. The comparison to XCOM is no coincidence — director Greg Foertsch and many Bit Reactor team members come directly from Firaxis Games and the XCOM reboot series.
Players will be able to customize their characters, including familiar Star Wars universe figures as well as original custom characters of their own creation. Each character can develop bonds with other squad members, creating powerful combat synergies that affect both battle performance and character development.
Turn-Based Tactics
XCOM-style strategic battles with per-turn character actions, cover mechanics, classes, and tactical depth that demands careful planning.
Character Bonds
Characters form bonds with each other that unlock combat synergies and influence their story development throughout the campaign.
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Permadeath Mode
A permanent death mode for the most hardcore players — every strategic mistake could cost you beloved characters forever.
Interactive Galaxy Map
Operations base on the Ring of Kafrene with a detailed, interactive galaxy map for strategic mission planning.
Story and Setting: Clone Wars in Depth
Zero Company takes place chronologically between 20 BBY and 19 BBY, right at the heart of the Clone Wars. The game's story is entirely original and canon, influenced by the varied narrative arcs of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the political intrigue and darker atmosphere of Star Wars: Andor and Rogue One, as well as the humor and wisdom of the original trilogy.
The player takes command of a squad during this critical period, making decisions that will shape the course of both the story and the characters. The operations base is located on the Ring of Kafrene — the well-known space station first seen in Rogue One — which serves as a hub for NPC interaction, equipment upgrades, and mission planning through an expansive galactic map.
Canon Star Wars Story
Zero Company will add new canon content to the Star Wars universe. Author Alexander Freed (known for his Star Wars novels) collaborated with Bit Reactor during the early development stages, while composer Gordy Haab — a veteran of Star Wars gaming music — handles the soundtrack.
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The Team Behind the Game
Bit Reactor was founded by veterans of Firaxis Games, the company behind the legendary XCOM series. Director Greg Foertsch is one of the most experienced figures in turn-based strategy games, with decades of experience creating tactical titles that combine strategic depth with narrative intensity.
The initiative for the game began when Vince Zampella, CEO of Respawn Entertainment, proposed to Foertsch the creation of a Star Wars title. The pitch went to Lucasfilm, who were enthusiastic about the idea. Orion Kellogg, Executive Producer at Lucasfilm Games, stated characteristically: "This is our strategy game. We're not asking them to make it less strategy-y — we want this to be a strategy game first and foremost."
Additionally, the team has expressed ambitions to revitalize and revolutionize the turn-based tactics genre, similar to what Baldur's Gate 3 achieved for RPGs. Jim Vessella from Respawn Entertainment oversees production, ensuring the final experience honors both the strategic heritage and the Star Wars universe.
Platforms and Release
Star Wars Zero Company will release in 2026 across three platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. It's exclusively a single-player experience, allowing developers to focus entirely on narrative quality and strategic density without the constraints of a multiplayer system.
This choice reveals Bit Reactor and Lucasfilm Games' commitment to creating a deeply personal experience where each player shapes their own path through the Star Wars universe. The exact release date has not been announced yet, but the game's showing at Celebration Japan was impressive.
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Why the Anticipation Is Justified
The combination of turn-based tactics with the Star Wars universe hasn't been attempted at this production level before. Previous Star Wars strategy games were of an entirely different type — here we're talking XCOM-style depth with permadeath, character bonds, and cinematic storytelling in a canon Star Wars setting.
The reasons that make this title stand out are numerous:
- Groundbreaking gameplay: Turn-based tactics from the very people who made XCOM
- Fully canon: The story is part of the official Star Wars timeline
- Characters with depth: Bond system affecting both combat and narrative
- Permadeath: Real consequences for every strategic decision
- Ring of Kafrene: Iconic location as a hub with full interactivity
- Gordy Haab: Music from the veteran Star Wars composer
XCOM Meets Star Wars
Bit Reactor was founded in January 2022 by former Firaxis Games veterans. Greg Foertsch and his team bring decades of experience in turn-based strategy design, aiming to create a game that will reshape the entire genre — just as Baldur's Gate 3 transformed RPGs.
Expectations and Concerns
Despite the excitement, there are also question marks. EA has a controversial history with Star Wars games, although the recent Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Survivor were exceptional titles. The cancellation of the Star Wars FPS in March 2024 raised concerns in the community, but Bit Reactor immediately confirmed that Zero Company remains in full development.
On the Lucasfilm side, the support is crystal clear — they've given full creative freedom to Bit Reactor, something Foertsch has described as “the best publisher collaboration experience” of his career. This means the team's creative vision isn't being compromised, which is rare in the massive Star Wars licensing industry.
The truth is that if Bit Reactor manages to transfer the magic of XCOM into a Clone Wars setting with the quality standards they've promised, Star Wars Zero Company could easily prove to be one of the best Star Wars titles in recent years — and certainly a game every strategy fan should have on their radar.