Video game studio Bit Reactor placed nearly 80 percent of its staff on unpaid leave three weeks before launching Star Wars Zero Company, despite the game achieving critical acclaim and climbing the best-seller chart on PC platform Steam.
A studio representative called the move a difficult decision made before the commercial results of the launch became clear. The spokesperson emphasized that the furlough initiative was decided solely by Bit Reactor, rather than publisher Electronic Arts or intellectual property owner Disney.
Electronic Arts distributes major interactive entertainment titles worldwide, while Disney holds the licensing rights to the Star Wars franchise. Digital storefront Steam, operated by Valve Corporation, is a primary sales channel for PC games. During game launches, developers typically transition to post-release support to deploy technical fixes and stability updates.
According to sources cited by gaming news site Game File, the workforce reduction affected nearly 80 percent of the development team. Bit Reactor retained only a core group of employees tasked with developing post-launch patches and software fixes.
Zakariya Scott, a former senior technical artist at the studio, accused executive management of hiding the mass furloughs from employees. Bit Reactor expressed hope that it can reinstate workers with full back pay if the title achieves commercial success, though staff members interviewed expressed doubt that employees will regain their jobs even if sales are strong.
Lawsuit over studio ownership
The staff furloughs coincide with an ongoing legal conflict over the leadership and ownership of the studio. Former chief operating officer and co-founder Alison Kelly filed a lawsuit seeking more than $20 million in damages, alleging that she was a co-owner of Bit Reactor and was pushed out by co-founder Greg Foertsch.
Foertsch has disputed the claims, insisting that Kelly was never a co-owner of the development studio. The court proceedings, which were originally scheduled to begin in June 2026, have been postponed to early 2027.
Financial uncertainty despite strong launch
Industry observers described the situation as a paradox for the studio following the release. Although reviewers have praised Star Wars Zero Company as one of the finest games based on the franchise in recent years, the long-term financial position of Bit Reactor remains in question.
