Days after the launch of its strategy game Star Wars Zero Company, Bit Reactor is reversing course and bringing back staff it had let go. The studio, which furloughed roughly 80% of its workforce shortly before the game’s release, confirmed on X that CEO Greg Foerstch has begun rehiring members of the development team, signaling a rare positive turn for a project whose launch was overshadowed by layoffs and internal disputes.
The announcement arrives more than two months after the initial reports emerged. While Zero Company earned widespread critical praise upon release, most of the people behind it were pushed out within days of launch. According to an early report, around 80% of Bit Reactor’s employees had been furloughed by the studio itself.
A Difficult Decision Being Reversed
In a post on X, Foerstch confirmed that the studio is hiring back more of the development team and described the move as “an important step forward in our continued support for Zero Company.” He acknowledged how difficult the earlier layoffs had been for staff.
“Having to ask team members to step away after we navigated unexpected business developments outside of our control and so close to launch was an incredibly difficult decision, but one that was necessary to help us eventually bring as many people back as possible. We look forward to sharing more updates regarding Bit Reactor and Zero Company soon.”
Greg Foerstch, CEO of Bit Reactor
Foerstch had previously insisted that the furloughs were unrelated to publisher EA or Disney, adding that the studio hoped to restore employee pay once Zero Company’s launch proved successful. The current rehiring effort appears to reflect that optimism materializing.
Lawsuit Revealed Internal Turmoil
The full scope of Bit Reactor’s troubles came into focus before Zero Company even shipped. Game File uncovered a lawsuit that detailed the studio’s struggles, confirming that 80% of the team had been furloughed and contractors terminated. The legal documents also exposed a bitter dispute between co-founders Greg Foerstch and Alison Kelly.
Kelly, the studio’s former chief operating officer, claims to be a co-owner of Bit Reactor, while Foerstch maintains that he is the sole owner. Kelly is suing for $20 million in damages, alleging she was forced out of the company. The litigation added another layer of controversy to an already fraught launch.
Supporting Zero Company Going Forward
To date, Zero Company has received mostly incremental updates rather than major content additions. On Sept. 9, the game landed its 1.1 patch, which improved performance and addressed a range of gameplay issues. While Bit Reactor has not previewed any large expansions or roadmaps, Foerstch’s language about “continued support for Zero Company” suggests that some form of story DLC could be on the horizon.
In the meantime, the community has stepped in to fill the void. A modder who goes by Cafiso created an unofficial expansion called Aftermath, which lets players continue past the end of the story and adds more than 1,000 additional cycles featuring new boss fights, recruits, and enemy factions.
The fan-driven content underscores how much appetite exists for deeper Zero Company experiences. Whether Bit Reactor’s renewed investment in its team translates into official support as robust as that mod will be the true test of whether this positive update is more than a temporary reprieve.
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