Hey everyone!
We’re so excited to finally tell you about Star Wars Zero Company™, which was just unveiled at Star Wars Celebration Japan this past weekend. Set during the Clone Wars, the game will see players embark on a turn-based tactics campaign with deep strategy and gripping Star Wars storytelling. In this blog, we’ll recap all the details you may have missed and share insights from our panel, which featured veteran genre talent from lead developer Bit Reactor as well as from close collaborators at both Respawn Entertainment and Lucasfilm Games.
The reveal panel at Star Wars Celebration Japan provided so many compelling insights into our team and game, including a trailer, a glimpse of our gameplay, and introductions for just a few of the members you can have in Zero Company: Hawks, Cly, Luco, Trick, and Tel-Rea. On the panel, we heard from Greg Foertsch, CEO and Creative Director at Bit Reactor; Aaron Contreras, Narrative Director at Bit Reactor; Jim Vessella, Senior Producer at Respawn; Orion Kellogg, Executive Producer at Lucasfilm Games; and Kelsey Sharpe, Creative Executive at Lucasfilm. Together they discussed the game’s origins, their overall vision for Zero Company, an overview of the story, and the importance of picking the perfect setting for the game in the Clone Wars. Bit Reactor has a fresh take on turn-based tactics games and on the Clone Wars stories you are used to seeing so check out the full panel here.
In the game’s original story, you will play as Hawks, a disgraced Republic Officer who’s now leading Zero Company through “a war you don’t see, the one fought in the shadows. The war beneath the war”. An unconventional outfit of professionals for hire hailing from across the galaxy, the members of Zero Company span multiple classic Star Wars archetypes, ranging from astromechs to Jedi. This unlikely ensemble includes a surprising combination of natural teammates and uneasy allies, but they will have to set aside their differences to stop a new threat that, if left unchecked, would consume the galaxy. The company is full of distinct characters we’re sure you guys are going to love, but be aware: there will be permadeath and limited saves on higher difficulties. To keep them alive and succeed on the battlefield, you’ll need to develop deep strategies that fully utilize your characters, their abilities, and the terrain.
Some of the combat synergies you’ll need to employ to succeed will use abilities that you can only get in Star Wars, like using the Force to move the enemy out of cover into a squadmate’s range to render them vulnerable to attack. Or, you can have a Clone Trooper providing cover fire, while an astromech jettisons a healing bacta stim to a wounded squadmate.
The boots-on-the-ground tone of the Clone Wars will be reflected in Zero Company, allowing you to feel both the personal stakes of the soldiers you command as well as the weight of strategic decisions that have galactic implications. The Clone Wars period also provides a wide range of potential combat scenarios and locations, which means you could find yourself infiltrating a Separatist base in one mission, and raiding a pirate outpost in another. Zero Company will not only touch on the elements that make this period so beloved by many fans, it will also take a previously unseen angle on the conflict by centering the vital work of those operating in secrecy.
Additionally, Hawks and the different squad members of Zero Company are customizable. Their voices, appearances, classes, names, and even your astromech’s paint job can be tailored to your preferences. Alongside our authored heroes, you will also be able to create your own squad members, choosing their appearance, class, outfit, and abilities. As you send squad members on missions together, their bonds will improve, which affects other parts of your playthrough, resulting in a different experience for every player.
Between missions, you will return to your home base - The Den. Here you’ll have the ability to socialize and catch up with your squad, as well as recruit, customize, and outfit your new operators, allowing you to unlock new skills and abilities for the company. Throughout the game, you’ll upgrade this space to make it fit your playstyle needs for Zero Company. Additionally, from The Den, you’ll access the in-game galaxy map. It’s the largest and most interactive yet in a Star Wars game and it’s where players will see just how their choices are impacting the galaxy.
While we can’t wait for you to meet and fall in love with our new characters, you can also expect appearances by some fan favorites – just imagine who might be around the corner! We can also confirm that, as you progress, you’ll visit iconic locations throughout the galaxy like Solo’s Vandor and Mapuzo from the Disney+ Original Series “Obi-Wan Kenobi."
Star Wars Zero Company will launch in 2026 and you can wishlist Star Wars Zero Company on PC! We’re going to go back to working on the game for now so you won’t be hearing from us for a bit, but are excited to share more when we’re ready.
Until next time,
Star Wars Zero Company Community Team
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2075800/STAR_WARS_Zero_Company/