Star Wars Zero Company: an XCOM-inspired strategy with Jedi and droids

At Star Wars Celebration in Japan, Electronic Arts and Lucasfilm unveiled the first trailer for Star Wars Zero Company, a new single-player tactical game based on the “Star Wars” universe. The project, being developed in collaboration between Respawn Entertainment and Bit Reactor Studios, was announced back in 2022 as one of three future games in the franchise. It’s expected to release in 2026 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.

The game is expected to be released in 2026 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.

In Star Wars Zero Company, players will take on the role of a former Republic officer named Hawkes, who is tasked with leading an elite squad of operatives in a gritty narrative set in the final days of the Clone Wars.

XCOM-inspired tactics and cinematic storytelling

The new strategy game is being developed with Bit Reactor, a young studio founded by Firaxis Games. Its creative director, Greg Furch, previously worked as art director on such hits as XCOM: Enemy Unknown and XCOM 2. So Zero Company’s similarity to Firaxis’ iconic turn-based strategy games is not a coincidence, but a deliberate choice.

“Our goal is to combine the rich and recognizable Star Wars universe with addictive turn-based gameplay,” explained Furch. – We want to offer players an original Clone Wars-era story where their decisions carry weight and tactical battles have depth and cinematic presentation.”

“We want to offer players an original Clone Wars-era story where their decisions carry weight and tactical battles have depth and cinematic presentation.

Betting the balance between history and strategy

The authors emphasize that Star Wars Zero Company aims to balance the franchise’s mass appeal with gameplay depth that can appeal to strategy fans. In an interview with PC Gamer in 2024, Furch and lead animator Hector Antunes – another XCOM veteran – emphasized that they’re not aiming for complexity for complexity’s sake.

Author and lead animator Hector Antunes emphasized that they’re not aiming for complexity for complexity’s sake.

“Complexity is not the same as depth,” noted Furch. – “Our goal is to find the right balance and give players an experience where both decisions and story are important.”

We’re trying to find the right balance and give players an experience where both decisions and story are important.

So Star Wars Zero Company promises to be a unique experience in the tactical strategy genre, combining intense turn-based combat, a dramatic story set during the fall of the Republic, and an attention to detail that’s driven by game industry veterans.