With Bit Reactor continuing its work on the tactical strategy game Star Wars Zero Company, studio founder Greg Foertsch has spoken to PCGamer about how much credit Lucasfilm and Respawn Entertainment deserve for the game being approved to begin with. This is especially the case since tactical strategy games tend to be quite niche when compared to major releases like shooters or RPGs.
Foertsch said that many major releases in the industry tend to be quite derivative. However, he is thankful for giant companies like Respawn and Lucasfilm for taking a chance on Star Wars Zero Company.
“Looking at some of the things going on in the industry, it’s very derivative. Art is always that way. Games are no different. But I think, looking at the boldness with which both Respawn and Lucasfilm looked at us,” said Foertsch. “You’ve got these two giants taking a chance on someone like us, having the vision and the courage and the conviction to risk that on a brand-new studio.”
“The faith in us to do something new, to do something outside of their norms. For both places, turn-based tactics isn’t something that they’ve done.”
He went on to note how easy it would have been for both companies to simply “follow form” and imitate other popular moves in the industry, since that would have likely guaranteed more sales for the game.
“But here you’ve got these two companies that just had the courage and the conviction to believe in trying something different and giving their audience something new,” he said. “I think that’s worth mentioning. It’s just not common anymore. And man, I can’t say enough about the support we’ve received from both of those companies.”
Just last month, Foertsch had also spoken about how a random phone call from Vince Zampella led to him pitching the entirety of the project on the spot, to which Zampella only asked if it could be possible to make it a Star Wars game.
“I’d left Firaxis after about 22 years of working there and making strategy games my whole career,” said Foertsch. “I knew I wanted to stay in the strategy, the tactics space?. I’m sitting in my office with the lights out and my computer on, my wife’s asleep, my kids are asleep, and the phone rings,” he continued. “It’s this number that I don’t recognize. For some reason, I answered it, and the voice on the other end said, ‘Hey, Greg, this is Vince Zampella. I heard you have a game you want to make. Can you tell me about it?’”
Unveiled back in April 2025, Star Wars Zero Company is a turn-based tactics game coming to PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S later this year. The story will be set between the events of Episode 2: Attack of the Clones and Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith, and will likely give players a new look at the battles that have already been covered at length in other Star Wars media.
Foertsch has also spoken about the grittier atmosphere of Star Wars Zero Company that was inspired by Rogue One and The Clone Wars.
