Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Most of Bit Reactor Furloughed Weeks Before Star Wars: Zero Company Launch

Bit Reactor says cash shortfalls forced temporary pay suspensions and rehiring will hinge on the game's commercial performance.

Overview

  • Star Wars: Zero Company launched to strong critical reviews and high Steam sales on August 27, yet much of the team that built it remains off payroll.
  • A Bit Reactor spokesperson confirmed the studio furloughed many workers in the weeks before release and described the decision as internal and difficult.
  • Multiple sources and a court filing put the scale of the action at roughly 80 percent of staff, leaving only a skeleton crew to handle post‑launch support.
  • The furloughs were disclosed in an August 12 court filing tied to co‑founder Alison Kelly's ownership lawsuit and the separate legal dispute between Kelly and Greg Foertsch continues with a trial set for early 2027.
  • Affected developers face immediate income loss and uncertain rehiring, and the studio's future now depends on launch revenue, the outcome of the lawsuit, and decisions by partner EA/Respawn about ongoing support.