‘Star Wars Zero Company’ Studio Brings Back Furloughed Devs in Positive Update
Following the well-received launch of Star Wars Zero Company, Bit Reactor faced an unexpected crisis when the studio furloughed 80% of its workforce in the days after release. The developer attributed the layoffs to “unexpected business developments outside of our control,” unrelated to publisher EA or Disney, though they expressed hope of rehiring staff once the game proved successful.
That recovery now appears to be underway. Bit Reactor CEO Greg Foerstch announced the studio has begun rehiring furloughed employees, with more than half of the previous headcount already returned to payroll. Foerstch stated the studio aims to “eventually bring as many people back as possible” as it continues supporting the strategy title. The studio is exploring ongoing content updates and potential DLC expansions to sustain the game post-launch.
This reversal represents a rare positive outcome in an industry marked by wave after wave of layoffs. While the initial furloughs highlighted the precarious position of game developers—even when their games succeed—the company’s ability to quickly rehire staff demonstrates the game’s commercial performance and provides some relief to affected workers.