Based on a report by Game File’s Stephen Totilo, “most” of Star Wars Zero Company’s studio, Bit Reactor, has been with out pay since before launch. A sizeable chunk of the staff had been furloughed forward of launch, with a rep for Bit Reactor telling Totilo that it was “a tough choice and one which had been made before it was clear how launch would go.”
Zero Company obtained a heat reception on launch, with our personal Ben Sledge giving it a wholesome 8/10, with the “triple-A polish” enhancing “an exciting narrative.” Regardless of this, and plenty of different optimistic critiques, it seems as if Bit Reactor is on unsteady floor, no less than financially.
Totilo references another of his sources, who says that the furloughs impacted “80% of the crew,” with a 3rd referring to a “skeleton crew” being left behind on the payroll to iron out any post-launch bugs. The Bit Reactor rep who spoke to Game File stated that “the studio hoped to convey furloughed employees again with restored pay, suggesting {that a} profitable launch of the game may very well be impactful.”
Constructive critiques apart, it is tough to say what counts as a “profitable launch” nowadays – monetary targets do not typically equate to viewers response. We’ve reached out to Bit Reactor for remark, and can replace this story as we all know extra.