Bit Reactor, the developer of Star Wars Zero Firm, has begun returning a few of its workers to the workforce after furloughing an estimated 80% of staff simply earlier than the sport’s launch.
Bit Reactor’s CEO Greg Foertsch revealed the information in a public put up on October 7, the place he defined that the furloughs had been essential to “assist us ultimately carry as many individuals again as attainable.”
Foertsh mentioned that bringing these workers members again to Bit Reactor was an “vital step ahead” within the studio’s “continued assist for Zero Firm,” and that the workforce seems ahead to sharing extra updates concerning the recreation “quickly.”
“Having to ask workforce members to step away after we navigated sudden enterprise developments outdoors of our management and so near launch was an extremely tough resolution,” Foertsh wrote. “…This workforce means an incredible quantity to me, and I’m extremely happy with what we’ve achieved collectively. Thanks to our followers for the unbelievable response to the sport and for supporting us alongside this journey.”
Sources with details about the scenario advised GameFile that the variety of Bit Reactor’s payrolled workers now account for “greater than half of what it had been forward of the furloughs,” which means that there’s nonetheless a sizeable chunk of furloughed workers who aren’t getting paid.
Star Wars Zero Firm launched in August 2026 to rave evaluations, getting a glowing 9 out of 10 from our reviewers right here at IGN who praised it for being an “glorious tactical recreation that does a incredible job of slathering on the identical cinematic feel and look we noticed in Respawn’s Star Wars Jedi video games, incorporating sturdy characters and a storyline that is refreshingly centered on non-Pressure customers and a non-traditional villain.”
Regardless of its success, a lot of Bit Reactor’s workers had been positioned on depart with out pay simply earlier than Zero Firm launched, with stories indicating round 80% of staff had been affected. This has turn out to be a recurring development throughout the recreation growth trade, to the purpose the place Gears of Struggle: E-Day builders had been overcome with fear that they’d get laid off after “crunching exhausting” to get the sport out on time.
That is the most recent information to get revealed about Zero Firm after GameFile uncovered authorized paperwork revealing that the sport was initially pitched as a title throughout the Titanfall universe, with particular connections to Apex Legends. Whereas this pitch in the end didn’t undergo, it’s definitely intriguing sufficient to make us surprise what such a recreation would have regarded like, had it really been made.
Virginia (she/her) is IGN’s Information Editor. With ten years of expertise reporting on video games and leisure, she’s bought a storied background within the preventing recreation group, influencer information, and viral on-line developments. Discover her on Twitter at @TheeMissGlaze.