Bit Reactor has started bringing furloughed developers back to work following the launch of Star Wars Zero Company. CEO Greg Foertsch confirmed that more team members are returning this week, describing the move as an important step in the studio’s continued support for the turn-based strategy game. The reversal follows reports that most of Bit Reactor’s workforce had been furloughed without pay shortly before Zero Company launched in August.
Foertsch said the studio had been forced to ask employees to step away after dealing with unexpected business developments close to launch. He characterized the furloughs as an extremely difficult decision that was intended to give Bit Reactor a chance to eventually restore as many positions as possible. The studio has not disclosed how many developers have returned so far or how many remain furloughed.
The staffing situation first became public in early September through reporting by Game File. Bit Reactor confirmed at the time that many employees had been furloughed before Star Wars Zero Company’s August 27 release, although the studio declined to provide an official headcount. One source estimated that roughly 80% of the team had been affected, while another described the remaining active staff as a skeleton crew focused on handling post-launch issues.
Bit Reactor also said at the time that the furlough decision had been made internally rather than at the direction of publisher Electronic Arts or Lucasfilm Games. The studio had hoped that a successful launch could allow it to restore affected employees and their pay, but it did not provide a timetable or guarantee that every worker would return. The latest statement indicates that process has now at least begun.
Foertsch credited the response to Star Wars Zero Company as the studio started rebuilding its active workforce. He thanked players for supporting the game and said Bit Reactor plans to share more updates about both the studio and Zero Company in the future. The company has not yet outlined whether the returning employees will work primarily on post-launch content, patches or another project.
Star Wars Zero Company is Bit Reactor’s debut title and launched for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The single-player tactics game is set during the Clone Wars and puts players in command of a squad led by former Republic officer Hawks. Between missions, players manage a base, develop relationships with squad members and gather intelligence before deploying into turn-based encounters.
The studio was founded in 2021 by veterans of Firaxis Games, including developers with experience on the modern XCOM series. That background shaped Zero Company’s emphasis on squad tactics, persistent characters and strategic decision-making. Its launch was therefore an important milestone for Bit Reactor beyond the Star Wars license, marking the studio’s first opportunity to establish itself independently.
The return of furloughed employees does not fully resolve the uncertainty surrounding Bit Reactor. The studio has not confirmed how many workers remain off payroll, whether everyone affected will eventually return or what its longer-term financial position now looks like. Furloughs differ from permanent layoffs because employees formally retain their jobs while temporarily not working, but they can still create substantial financial uncertainty for those affected.
For Bit Reactor, the latest change is nevertheless a notable improvement from the situation surrounding Zero Company’s release. A studio that had been operating with much of its development staff sidelined is now beginning to restore its workforce, while continuing to support its first game. How far that recovery goes will depend on how many employees return and what Bit Reactor announces next for Zero Company and the studio itself.
