Star Wars: Zero Company, an XCOM-style tactics game, will be unveiled this weekend

[zohaibahd]

Highly anticipated: Electronic Arts is pulling back the curtain on its highly anticipated turn-based strategy title Zero Company, developed by the newly formed Bit Reactor studio. It's set to launch on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. The game has been a closely guarded secret, but that's set to change soon.

The Bit Reactor studio is made up of a crew of industry vets who previously worked on major strategy franchises like XCOM, Civilization, Gears of War, and Elder Scrolls Online. It was founded in 2022 and has been cooking up this Star Wars project in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games and Respawn Entertainment.

Up until now, details about Zero Company have been basically non-existent beyond it being a single-player turn-based tactics experience set in a galaxy far, far away. But that will change this Saturday, April 19, at the Star Wars Celebration event happening in Japan.

EA will host a panel providing our first real look at Zero Company gameplay at 4:30pm local Tokyo time. For those in the US, that translates to 12:30am PT / 3:30am ET screen time.

Engage in turn-based tactical combat - STAR WARS Zero Company.

Join us at #StarWars celebration on April 19 for a panel with @BitReactor, @Respawn, and @LucasfilmGames where we'll share a world-exclusive first look at our new game. #SWZeroCo

Learn more: https://t.co/B4Ky371FaA pic.twitter.com/xhM4btVXeL

– EA Star Wars (@EAStarWars) April 14, 2025

The promo image depicted a gritty, somber aesthetic filled with a ragtag squad of familiar Star Wars archetypes – clone troopers, Mandalorians, alien warriors, a droid, and more.

While we'll have to wait for the panel to get the full scoop, some leaked screenshots from March may have given us an early taste of what to expect. Those gave off some serious XCOM vibes, which tracks given the Bit Reactor founders' past experience.

One has to imagine we'll see a blend of squad-based combat, parceled-out character abilities, environmental destruction, and tense decision-making under fire as players command their outnumbered forces.

Zero Company represents one of three Star Wars games that Respawn teased back in January 2022. We already know one of those was Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, the 2023 follow-up to the acclaimed Jedi: Fallen Order. As for the third game mentioned, the studio described it as an "all-new" first-person shooter set in the Star Wars universe.

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Star Wars: Zero Company, an XCOM-style tactics game, will be unveiled this weekend

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Always happy to get more X-Com style games.

Funny how EA had exclusively to the SW license for 11 years and they put out something like 3 games in that time.

Exclusivity ends and they're putting out the same number of games in half the time...

 

[AlexIL]

EA Star Wars? Muchas gracias.

A gay Jedi struggling with transgendering identity crying on Darth Vader's shoulder. Intermittent scenes of characters sharing DEI stories mid combat. Black Snow White giving speech on human rights in front of stormtroopers battalion preparing to assault Star Trek's Enterprise.


Yeah thanks, not looking forward to EA games.

 

[ZedRM]

Always happy to get more X-Com style games.

Not from EA.

EA Star Wars? Muchas gracias.

A gay Jedi struggling with transgendering identity crying on Darth Vader's shoulder. Intermittent scenes of characters sharing DEI stories mid combat. Black Snow White giving speech on human rights in front of stormtroopers battalion preparing to assault Star Trek's Enterprise.


Yeah thanks, not looking forward to EA games.

Easily the funniest thing I've read this month! This funniness is ruined only by how true it is. Very sad.

 

[m4a4]

Here's to hoping for a sweet cinematic then.

However, I'm not expecting all that much from this EA game.

 

[ScottSoapbox]

Love X-Com style games, but I lean towards versions with simpler base building/tech tree aspects these days due to time constraints.

But EA? Nah, I'll pass.

 

[kiwigraeme]

Yeah not every one is a twitch precision gamer - soulslike

I have always thought tactics/strategy , realtime planning ( eg flow prediction games ) is much more to my liking that mastery of a controller

These type of games can't hide behind poor design

 

[AnilD]

A Star Wars tactics game from the minds behind XCOM and Civilization is basically a dream team setup. If they can nail the tone and give each squad member real personality, this could be something special — especially if permadeath or hard choices are involved.

 

[nnguy2]

EA Star Wars? Muchas gracias.

A gay Jedi struggling with transgendering identity crying on Darth Vader's shoulder. Intermittent scenes of characters sharing DEI stories mid combat. Black Snow White giving speech on human rights in front of stormtroopers battalion preparing to assault Star Trek's Enterprise.


Yeah thanks, not looking forward to EA games.

You got all that from the article? Weird projection.

 

[ZedRM]

You got all that from the article? Weird projection.

Not it all. They spoke the truth. You simply failed to understand it. Not their failure.

 

[lonetac]

Xcom style star wars, heck yeah!

Ive played every xcom game released (almost, I missed a few of the knock offs in the 90s).

 

[ZedRM]

Ive played every xcom game released (almost, I missed a few of the knock offs in the 90s).

Those weren't knock-off's, those were the originals and they were the best versions.

 

[nnguy2]

Not it all. They spoke the truth. You simply failed to understand it. Not their failure.

You people got issues.

 

[HardReset]

Always happy to get more X-Com style games.

Funny how EA had exclusively to the SW license for 11 years and they put out something like 3 games in that time.

Exclusivity ends and they're putting out the same number of games in half the time...

Love X-Com style games, but I lean towards versions with simpler base building/tech tree aspects these days due to time constraints.

But EA? Nah, I'll pass.

Xcom style star wars, heck yeah!

Ive played every xcom game released (almost, I missed a few of the knock offs in the 90s).

You all stop messing with -.

X-Com is old school tactical combat like Ufo: Enemy Unknown/X-Com Ufo Defense, Terror from the Deep, Apocalypse etc etc.

XCOM without - AND WITH CAPITALS is 2012 reboot casual BS crap.

Edit: Major praise to @zohaibahd. You got it right

 

[lonetac]

You all stop messing with -.

X-Com is old school tactical combat like Ufo: Enemy Unknown/X-Com Ufo Defense, Terror from the Deep, Apocalypse etc etc.

XCOM without - AND WITH CAPITALS is 2012 reboot casual BS crap.

Edit: Major praise to @zohaibahd. You got it right

Ive played them all. They are all fun to me.

I dont get into the gatekeeping bs. I just play games that are fun. Xcom is fun.

Yes it started with Enemy uknown. Terror from the deep was awesome too. Apocalypse wasnt my jam but I still played it.

Got me into Jagged Alliance.

 

[lonetac]

Those weren't knock-off's, those were the originals and they were the best versions.

im talking like interceptor and that fps.

Yes they were official xcom games but not really. A completely different genre.

 

[HardReset]

Ive played them all. They are all fun to me.

I dont get into the gatekeeping bs. I just play games that are fun. Xcom is fun.

Yes it started with Enemy uknown. Terror from the deep was awesome too. Apocalypse wasnt my jam but I still played it.

Got me into Jagged Alliance.

There's no Xcom. It's either X-Com or XCOM.

It just makes hard to understand what you are referring at. No offence.

 

[ZedRM]

im talking like interceptor and that fps.

Ah, yes. I remember those. They were good, but you're right, pretenders to the throne.

You people got issues.

We would suggest the same in reciprocal. Funny how that works, isn't it?

 

[ZedRM]

There's no Xcom. It's either X-Com or XCOM.

Semantics. ..rolls eyes..

 

[HardReset]

Semantics. ..rolls eyes..

No, we are talking totally different things here. For old school gamers, even comparing X-Com and XCOM is pretty much sacrilege. I don't see there is much need for explanations about that.

 

[ZedRM]

No, we are talking totally different things here. For old school gamers, even comparing X-Com and XCOM is pretty much sacrilege. I don't see there is much need for explanations about that.

You are making distinctions no one else cares about. Regional differences and naming schemes are not something anyone but elitist people care at all about. That makes it semantics.

 

[lonetac]

No, we are talking totally different things here. For old school gamers, even comparing X-Com and XCOM is pretty much sacrilege. I don't see there is much need for explanations about that.

Xcom is xcom. You are being very silly and trying to be serious about what you are saying is extremely laughable.

Just stop. Toxic gatekeepers within video games are the absolute worst.

Im not even going to debate you on this topic its so stupid.

 

[HardReset]

You are making distinctions no one else care about. Regional differences and naming schemes are not something anyone but elitist people care at all about. That makes it semantics.

Well, how should I put this:

X-Com: 1994 published game that inspired many turn based combat games.

XCOM: 2012 published game that appealed masses because it was much more casual.

Two totally different games, 18 years between them. And yet you talk about semantics, maning schemes etc etc.

You could say same about Doom and Doom. One published 1993 and another 2016. Too bad they are written exacly same so semantics do not help here but you probably understand those are two totally different things even when using exactly same name.

Xcom is xcom. You are being very silly and trying to be serious about what you are saying is extremely laughable.

Just stop. Toxic gatekeepers within video games are the absolute worst.

Im not even going to debate you on this topic its so stupid.

If it's so hard to even say what you are talking about, then you should not write on this topic. Again:

X-Com: 1994

XCOM: 2012

Xcom: Wtf

 

[lonetac]

Well, how should I put this:

X-Com: 1994 published game that inspired many turn based combat games.

XCOM: 2012 published game that appealed masses because it was much more casual.

Two totally different games, 18 years between them. And yet you talk about semantics, maning schemes etc etc.

You could say same about Doom and Doom. One published 1993 and another 2016. Too bad they are written exacly same so semantics do not help here but you probably understand those are two totally different things even when using exactly same name.




If it's so hard to even say what you are talking about, then you should not write on this topic. Again:

X-Com: 1994

XCOM: 2012

Xcom: Wtf

doom is doom.

xcom is xcom.

Stop. You are creating your own argument about something nobody cares about.

its like saying super mario isnt super mario. Just stop being silly. Nobody but you cares.

And dont tell me to stop talking about something. I will do as I please without *****ic arguments like you are making.

 

[HardReset]

doom is doom.

xcom is xcom.

Stop. You are creating your own argument about something nobody cares about.

its like saying super mario isnt super mario. Just stop being silly. Nobody but you cares.

And dont tell me to stop talking about something. I will do as I please without *****ic arguments like you are making.

Your answer just proves you have difficulty understanding.

Super mario is what? Is it character Mario? Is it Super Mario Bros? Or Super Mario Bros 2? Or something else. You expect me to understand what you mean with that?

You could say xcom 1993 or xcom 93, then I would understand you are referring to 1993 version. Or Xcom 2012 or Xcom 12. But Xcom? Is it 1993 or 2012 version? Sorry but of you even cannot say What you are talking about, there is not much to done here.