# Star Wars Zero Company
**Star Wars Zero Company** is a single-player turn-based tactics video game set in the twilight of the Clone Wars era of the [Star Wars](https://www.edgepedia.org/star-wars) franchise, developed by Bit Reactor in collaboration with [Respawn Entertainment](https://www.edgepedia.org/respawn-entertainment) and [Lucasfilm Games](https://www.edgepedia.org/lucasfilm-games) and published by Electronic Arts. It was revealed on April 19, 2025 at Star Wars Celebration Japan and released on August 27, 2026 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.[1](https://news.ea.com/press-releases/press-releases-details/2025/EA--Lucasfilm-Games-Announce-Star-Wars-Zero-Company-a-Turn-Based-Tactics-Game-Set-in-the-Clone-Wars/default.aspx) • [2](https://help.ea.com/en/articles/star-wars/zero-company/platforms-pc-requirements-guide/) Players command Hawks, a former Republic officer leading an elite squad of mercenaries against a Separatist-aligned cult called the Infinite Coil.[3](https://www.ea.com/news/star-wars-zero-company-now-available)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Genre | Single-player turn-based tactics, with a cinematic story campaign[1](https://news.ea.com/press-releases/press-releases-details/2025/EA--Lucasfilm-Games-Announce-Star-Wars-Zero-Company-a-Turn-Based-Tactics-Game-Set-in-the-Clone-Wars/default.aspx) |
| Developer / publisher | Bit Reactor with Respawn Entertainment and Lucasfilm Games; published by Electronic Arts[1](https://news.ea.com/press-releases/press-releases-details/2025/EA--Lucasfilm-Games-Announce-Star-Wars-Zero-Company-a-Turn-Based-Tactics-Game-Set-in-the-Clone-Wars/default.aspx) |
| Release | August 27, 2026, on PC (EA app, Steam, Epic Games Store), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S[3](https://www.ea.com/news/star-wars-zero-company-now-available) |
| Setting | The twilight of the Clone Wars, from a ground-level "war beneath the war" perspective[4](https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-zero-company) |
| Protagonist | Hawks, a customizable former Republic officer leading the mercenary Zero Company[4](https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-zero-company) |
| Antagonists | The Infinite Coil, a Separatist-aligned cult led by Kundri Fathom, and its deadly Shadow Plague[3](https://www.ea.com/news/star-wars-zero-company-now-available) |
| Squad size | Four operatives per tactical mission, with permadeath and a bond system between squadmates[5](https://zerocompany.wiki/guides/zero-company-vs-xcom/) |
| Campaign length | About forty hours according to MeriStation's review, which scored the game 8 out of 10[6](https://as.com/meristation/analisis/analisis-de-star-wars-zero-company-ni-enamora-ni-defrauda-f202609-n/) |
## Development and announcement
[Electronic Arts](https://www.edgepedia.org/electronic-arts) first announced an untitled Star Wars strategy game on January 25, 2022, to be produced by Respawn Entertainment with development led by Bit Reactor, a new independent studio founded by veterans of [Firaxis Games](https://www.edgepedia.org/firaxis-games), the makers of [XCOM: Enemy Unknown](https://www.edgepedia.org/xcom-enemy-unknown), XCOM 2, and Marvel's Midnight Suns.[7](https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Star_Wars_Zero_Company) • [8](https://gameinformer.com/preview/2026/08/11/xcom-meets-star-wars-in-the-best-way-possible) Bit Reactor's team also includes developers credited on Civilization, Gears of War, and Elder Scrolls Online.[1](https://news.ea.com/press-releases/press-releases-details/2025/EA--Lucasfilm-Games-Announce-Star-Wars-Zero-Company-a-Turn-Based-Tactics-Game-Set-in-the-Clone-Wars/default.aspx)
The game was formally revealed as Star Wars Zero Company at Star Wars Celebration Japan on April 19, 2025, with an announce trailer and a panel featuring Bit Reactor's game director and CEO Greg Foertsch and narrative and cinematic director Aaron Contreras.[1](https://news.ea.com/press-releases/press-releases-details/2025/EA--Lucasfilm-Games-Announce-Star-Wars-Zero-Company-a-Turn-Based-Tactics-Game-Set-in-the-Clone-Wars/default.aspx) • [4](https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-zero-company) According to Foertsch, the idea for a Star Wars tactics game was first raised by Vince Zampella of Titanfall and [Call of Duty](https://www.edgepedia.org/call-of-duty) fame.[9](https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/xbox/star-wars-zero-company-preview-the-xcom) A gameplay trailer at Summer Game Fest on June 5, 2026 revealed the August launch date and an Anakin Skywalker cameo.[10](https://www.pcgamer.com/games/strategy/star-wars-zero-company-guide/)
## Story and characters
The campaign follows Hawks, a disgraced Republic officer turned mercenary leader whose company is recruited by Republic Intelligence for an operation against the Infinite Coil, a mysterious cult whose movements threaten the galaxy and whose Shadow Plague must be stopped before it consumes it.[4](https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-zero-company) • [3](https://www.ea.com/news/star-wars-zero-company-now-available) Lucasfilm Games executive producer Orion Kellogg described Hawks as a role not represented elsewhere in the franchise, and the game as a "boots on the ground" view of the Clone Wars rather than a story of Jedi Masters and galactic politicians.[4](https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-zero-company)
Squads mix handcrafted characters with player-created operatives. The original characters introduced at the reveal panel include Trick, a clone soldier; Luco Bronc, an incendiary sharpshooter from Umbara; Cly Kullervo, a Mandalorian gunslinger of clan Verminoth; and Tel, a Tognath Jedi Padawan completing her fallen master's last mission.[4](https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-zero-company) Hawks' appearance and combat class are fully customizable, and recruited operatives can be tailored across archetypes from Clone Troopers and astromechs to a Jedi.[1](https://news.ea.com/press-releases/press-releases-details/2025/EA--Lucasfilm-Games-Announce-Star-Wars-Zero-Company-a-Turn-Based-Tactics-Game-Set-in-the-Clone-Wars/default.aspx)
## Gameplay
Missions use a four-operative squad in turn-based combat built on cover, flanking, and hit chance, with cinematic kill cams and permadeath: operatives can be lost for good, and with permadeath mode on, three injuries suffered in tactical combat result in death.[5](https://zerocompany.wiki/guides/zero-company-vs-xcom/) • [11](https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-zero-company-guide) The game saves automatically after every action and turn, with manual reloading disabled.[12](https://starwarszerocompany.blog/mechanics/)
Between missions players return to [The Den](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-den), the company's base of operations on the Ring of Kafrene, which holds a galaxy map used to choose strategic tasks and tactical missions. The campaign advances through a three-phase cycle: prepare at The Den, spend Intel on Holo-map operations, then deploy on a tactical mission.[4](https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-zero-company) • [12](https://starwarszerocompany.blog/mechanics/) Squadmates who fight together forge bonds that unlock combat synergies, and investing in a partnership, such as sending the feuding Trick and Luco on missions together, can affect a character's fate in the story.[4](https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-zero-company) The squad travels aboard a new ship, the Caisson, piloted by a new droid, M-3VO.[4](https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-zero-company)
## Comparison with XCOM
The "Star Wars XCOM" label has followed the game since its reveal, and the similarities are deliberate: Bit Reactor was founded by veterans of the modern XCOM games, and Zero Company shares their turn-based squad tactics, cover and flanking system, kill-cam camera language, permadeath, and a base of operations between missions.[5](https://zerocompany.wiki/guides/zero-company-vs-xcom/) Previews also identified the influence of [Marvel's Midnight Suns](https://www.edgepedia.org/marvels-midnight-suns), which many of the same developers worked on, in the game's stronger emphasis on authored characters, relationships, and a story-forward campaign rather than XCOM's randomly generated, expendable soldiers.[8](https://gameinformer.com/preview/2026/08/11/xcom-meets-star-wars-in-the-best-way-possible) • [13](https://www.pcgamer.com/games/strategy/star-wars-zero-company-is-a-very-safe-xcom-descendant-but-its-most-interesting-parts-are-found-in-its-midnight-suns-dna/) Unlike XCOM 2, the game launched without a modding ecosystem.[14](https://hacktheminotaur.com/swzc/star-wars-zero-company-vs-xcom-explained/)
## Reception and launch
The launch had issues, some of the most prominent of which were addressed in a patch shortly after release, but the game rose up the Steam best seller's list, and [PC Gamer](https://www.edgepedia.org/pc-gamer) associate editor Ted Litchfield called it "a new all-timer Star Wars game and a stunning debut for Bit Reactor."[15](https://www.pcgamer.com/games/strategy/the-studio-behind-star-wars-zero-company-is-hiring-back-some-of-its-furloughed-staff/) MeriStation scored it 8 out of 10, praising the setting, art direction, and character chemistry while finding the tactical system more accessible than deep and criticizing the action-wheel interface, especially on console.[6](https://as.com/meristation/analisis/analisis-de-star-wars-zero-company-ni-enamora-ni-defrauda-f202609-n/) Windows Central's review called it a top-shelf XCOM-styled game and a new bar for the genre.[16](https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/star-wars-zero-company-review)
Just as the game was set to launch, Bit Reactor furloughed over 80% of its staff over sales uncertainty; several weeks after release the studio announced on Bluesky that it had begun rehiring some of those affected.[15](https://www.pcgamer.com/games/strategy/the-studio-behind-star-wars-zero-company-is-hiring-back-some-of-its-furloughed-staff/)
## Editions and soundtrack
The Digital Deluxe Edition, with Clone Wars-era cosmetic items, is priced at $59.99 SRP on PC and $69.99 on consoles, and a Collector's Edition at $299.99 SRP includes a Hasbro Black Series Thermal Detonator, a Steelbook, and a desk mat.[3](https://www.ea.com/news/star-wars-zero-company-now-available) The soundtrack, an original score by Grammy-winning composer Gordy Haab, was released by [Walt Disney Records](https://www.edgepedia.org/walt-disney-records) alongside the game.[3](https://www.ea.com/news/star-wars-zero-company-now-available)
## References
1. [EA & Lucasfilm Games Announce Star Wars Zero Company, a Turn-Based Tactics Game Set in the Clone Wars (April 19, 2025)](https://news.ea.com/press-releases/press-releases-details/2025/EA--Lucasfilm-Games-Announce-Star-Wars-Zero-Company-a-Turn-Based-Tactics-Game-Set-in-the-Clone-Wars/default.aspx)
2. [STAR WARS Zero Company guide: release, platforms, and specs, EA Help](https://help.ea.com/en/articles/star-wars/zero-company/platforms-pc-requirements-guide/)
3. [Star Wars Zero Company is now available, EA News (August 28, 2026)](https://www.ea.com/news/star-wars-zero-company-now-available)
4. [Join the Ranks of Star Wars Zero Company, StarWars.com (April 19, 2025)](https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-zero-company)
5. [Zero Company vs XCOM: How Different Is It?, Zero Company Wiki](https://zerocompany.wiki/guides/zero-company-vs-xcom/)
6. [Análisis de Star Wars Zero Company, MeriStation](https://as.com/meristation/analisis/analisis-de-star-wars-zero-company-ni-enamora-ni-defrauda-f202609-n/)
7. [Star Wars Zero Company, Wookieepedia](https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Star_Wars_Zero_Company)
8. [Star Wars Zero Company Preview: XCOM Meets Star Wars, Game Informer (August 11, 2026)](https://gameinformer.com/preview/2026/08/11/xcom-meets-star-wars-in-the-best-way-possible)
9. [Star Wars Zero Company preview, Windows Central (August 11, 2026)](https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/xbox/star-wars-zero-company-preview-the-xcom)
10. [Star Wars Zero Company: Everything we know, PC Gamer](https://www.pcgamer.com/games/strategy/star-wars-zero-company-guide/)
11. [How to Play Star Wars Zero Company, StarWars.com (August 27, 2026)](https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-zero-company-guide)
12. [Combat Mechanics & Campaign Systems, Star Wars Zero Company blog](https://starwarszerocompany.blog/mechanics/)
13. [Star Wars Zero Company is a very safe XCOM descendant, PC Gamer](https://www.pcgamer.com/games/strategy/star-wars-zero-company-is-a-very-safe-xcom-descendant-but-its-most-interesting-parts-are-found-in-its-midnight-suns-dna/)
14. [Star Wars Zero Company vs. XCOM Explained, Hack the Minotaur](https://hacktheminotaur.com/swzc/star-wars-zero-company-vs-xcom-explained/)
15. [The studio behind Star Wars Zero Company is bringing back some of its furloughed staff, PC Gamer](https://www.pcgamer.com/games/strategy/the-studio-behind-star-wars-zero-company-is-hiring-back-some-of-its-furloughed-staff/)
16. [Star Wars Zero Company review, Windows Central](https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/star-wars-zero-company-review)
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