Bit Reactor placed roughly 80% of its staff on unpaid furlough weeks before releasing its game Star Wars Zero Company on August 28, 2026. A small skeleton crew was kept on payroll to provide post-launch support as the studio ran out of funds just before the game's debut [1, 2, 3, 4].
The furloughs were not ordered by publisher Electronic Arts or Disney, the Star Wars IP owner, but stemmed from Bit Reactor's own financial difficulties [1, 3, 4]. The company hopes to bring back the affected developers with pay depending on the commercial success of Star Wars Zero Company [1, 3, 4].
Star Wars Zero Company launched to critical acclaim and strong sales across Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox platforms [1, 2, 3]. The project originated from co-founder Alison Kelly securing support from the late Respawn and EA executive Vince Zampella, who helped pivot the game into a Star Wars title [2].
However, the company's internal situation has been contentious. Former Bit Reactor technical artist Zachariah Scott criticized the studio publicly, saying it was "sick and weird" that executives and senior staff celebrated the game's success while the majority of the team had been quietly furloughed. He called it "a gross but all too common sight" to see the team left without pay or profit sharing amid good public vibes and empty promises [3].
Bit Reactor is also embroiled in a legal dispute between co-founders Alison Kelly and Greg Foertsch over ownership and control. Kelly claims she was pushed out without compensation and is seeking $20 million in damages. Foertsch denies Kelly's co-ownership and challenges her allegations and performance [1]. A trial is scheduled in early 2027 [2, 4].
The discord adds friction to an otherwise successful game launch. Bit Reactor must now navigate the fallout of mass furloughs and legal battles while supporting the post-release phase of Star Wars Zero Company.
