Overview
- Bit Reactor confirmed many employees were placed on unpaid furloughs weeks before the game’s release, with multiple sources telling reporters the cuts affected roughly 80% of the studio that launched Star Wars: Zero Company on August 27.
- Court filings from a 2024 lawsuit noted an August 12 update saying the company had furloughed most staff and terminated contractors, and reporters say the furlough disclosure helped drive wider coverage.
- Sources and filings say the studio ran low on cash just ahead of launch, which company spokespeople described as the reason for the staffing decision.
- Bit Reactor told reporters the furlough was an internal choice and that it hopes to bring workers back with restored pay if sales hold, but several former and current staff who spoke publicly expressed skepticism about full rehiring or back pay.
- The game’s strong critical reception and sales create short‑term visibility, yet the funding shortfall and a continuing co‑founder ownership lawsuit scheduled for early 2027 raise questions about long‑term post‑launch support, employee pay, and the studio’s future.