Star Wars: Zero Company will be brilliant because XCOM is brilliant

Star Wars: Zero Company, an upcoming turn-based tactics game from Bit Reactor, is generating strong early buzz following recent preview builds. Developed by a studio founded by former Firaxis creative director Greg Foertsch and staffed with veteran XCOM developers, the game applies the proven tactical combat formula to the Star Wars universe.

Set during the Clone Wars era, players command a squad called Zero Company—a group of misfits led by a customizable protagonist named Hawks who uses they/them pronouns. The game emphasizes squad-based, grid-based combat with permanently killable characters, base management, and RPG-lite progression systems that closely mirror the XCOM franchise.

Early reception from gaming outlets has been overwhelmingly positive. Multiple reviewers called the game “brilliant” and praised it as an excellent fit for both Star Wars and tactics game fans. Windows Central described it as a personal “Game of the Year contender,” while Polygon noted it’s “shaping up to be the best version of XCOM-style squad-based tactics yet.”

However, some critics expressed reservation about the game’s approach. GameSpot noted the title “plays things too safe,” feeling more like a Star Wars-themed XCOM mod than an innovative new entry in the genre. PC Gamer similarly observed that while the game unapologetically channels XCOM 2’s design, moments felt familiar enough to resemble a high-budget mod. The recurring question across reviews centers on whether adopting the proven formula, rather than evolving it, represents a missed opportunity.

The game is heading to Xbox and PC platforms under EA’s publishing umbrella. Bit Reactor’s reasoning for the game’s existence acknowledges the gap in Star Wars’ tactical gaming library—surprising given the franchise’s emphasis on conflict. With preview builds showing 4-18 hours of gameplay, the early consensus suggests Star Wars: Zero Company will satisfy franchise fans and tactics enthusiasts seeking more XCOM-style experiences, even if it doesn’t break significant new ground.

Star Wars: Zero Company will be brilliant because XCOM is brilliant

Sources