Bit Reactor Furloughed Most Staff Before Star Wars Zero Company Launch, Report Reveals
Bit Reactor, the studio behind the recently released Star Wars Zero Company, placed most of its employees on unpaid furlough shortly before the game's launch, according to a report. The move reportedly affected about 80% of the team, leaving a small group to handle post-launch issues, as the studio ran out of funds. The furlough emerged during a legal dispute between the company's former COO and its CEO, who is also facing a countersuit.
The furlough affected roughly four-fifths of Bit Reactor's workforce, leaving only a skeleton crew to address post-launch issues. The studio reportedly exhausted its funds before release, despite attempts at cost-cutting measures and hopes of securing additional development deals. The situation only became public through legal filings tied to the dispute between co-founders.
Court documents also reveal that former COO Alison Kelly originally pitched the project to the late Zince Zampella as a Titanfall spinoff before it pivoted to the Star Wars license. Kelly claims she was pushed out without compensation for her ownership stake, while CEO Greg Foertsch denies the allegations and has countersued. A trial is scheduled for early 2027.
This situation could heighten scrutiny of how game studios manage finances during development, particularly when publishers are involved. Players may become more cautious about supporting titles from studios with opaque labor practices, while industry workers could face increased anxiety about job security even at critically successful companies. The case may also influence how developers approach