Bit Reactor furloughs 80% of staff

Bit Reactor has furloughed a large portion of its staff in the weeks leading up to the launch of its new game, Star Wars Zero Company. According to a report from Game File, up to 80 percent of the studio's employees were placed on unpaid leave.

A representative from Bit Reactor confirmed the furloughs to Game File. The representative stated that the decision was made due to uncertainty surrounding the game's launch performance. They emphasized that the move was Bit Reactor's own decision and not mandated by its publishing partners, Electronic Arts or Disney. The studio hopes to bring furloughed workers back with full pay.

A Critical and Commercial Hit

Star Wars Zero Company was released on August 28 to widespread critical acclaim. PC Gamer's Ted Litchfield called it "a new all-timer Star Wars game and a stunning debut for Bit Reactor." The tactical RPG quickly became a commercial success, topping the Steam bestseller list upon release. You can see how it compares to other major releases in our stats section. The game is also available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox consoles.

Staffer Criticizes Corporate Silence

The furloughs were highlighted by a former Bit Reactor employee, Zachariah Scott, who was let go by the studio earlier this year. On LinkedIn, Scott criticized what he saw as a disconnect between corporate celebration and staff hardship.

"It is sick and weird to have all of these EA and Disney folks as well as Bitreactor Senior staff making all of these 10/10 posts about Star Wars Zero Company being such a huge success and praising the work of the team while seemingly concealing the fact that the team was furloughed weeks ago," Scott wrote.

He continued, stating it was "a gross but all too common sight to see, another corporate game hitting the top of Steam while the team is left looking for work and cut off from any possible profit sharing." Scott argued that transparency from the start would have created a different narrative, instead of what he described as keeping the team in a "holding pattern with good vibes and more empty promises."

Industry Context

The situation presents a stark contrast between a game's public success and the private struggles of its development team. Even a studio that has just shipped a critically praised and top-selling Star Wars title published by a major company like EA is not immune to severe post-launch instability. The report from Game File, citing sources familiar with the matter, indicates the scale of the impact on Bit Reactor's workforce, a situation reflected in broader industry injuries to developer stability.

The furloughs mean affected staff remain technically employed but are not receiving wages. The studio's future plans for these employees remain contingent on the game's ongoing commercial performance. Star Wars Zero Company continues to sell well on Steam.