Electronic Arts has unveiled its next entry in the Star Wars universe, this time taking a turn-based approach with Star Wars Zero Company. Comparisons will no doubt be made to XCOM, which has long been considered one of the most definitive franchises when it comes to turn-based games. Star Wars Zero Company (1, 2, 3) is set during the final years of the Clone Wars, where players can create or choose from a roster of characters to form a squad under the command of Hawks, a former Republic officer. Players will embark on a new original single-player story, with the game being co-developed by Bit Reactor and Respawn Entertainment for PC and consoles, and is said to arrive sometime in 2026.
“We’re offering a character we haven’t seen before, a role we haven’t seen before, I don’t think I can point at another character in the Star Wars franchise and say, oh, that’s Hawks. And I think that’s because of this unique story that we’re telling and this unique timeframe digging beneath the surface of the Clone Wars. It gets really complex. It’s complicated, and Hawks is, then, also complicated.”
-Orion Kellogg, Lucasfilm Games Executive Producer
“We really wanted to touch on some of the places that maybe people haven’t been as familiar with, The kind of game that we’re making allows us to craft environments that hopefully resonate with people that have seen the series, maybe things that were deep cuts that somebody out there will think, ‘I remember that place.”
-Greg Foertsch, Bit Reactor Game Director
While Bit Reactor is telling a story set in the Clone Wars timeline, it is attempting to further expand upon events of that era. Fans of the animated series will recognize various elements, but will also get to experience something new.
Aside from creating a team to go on missions and fight battles, players will also have the ability to send forth informants for reconnaissance missions across the galaxy. Intel gained between missions could make the difference between life and death as the story progresses. It will be interesting to see if this game is the one SW fans are looking for, as the franchise has proven to be a challenge for various developers to be successful with. Players will not only be able to fully customize the main character but also the squad recruits and operatives, including astromechs and Jedi. From leveling up, abilities, and load-ups, players have the full range of opportunities to personalize their experience.
Per StarWars.com:
“In Zero Company, players enter the fray in the Clone Wars well into the galaxy-wide conflict. The Bit Reactor team is creating a story with strategic assaults on different planets and terrains, as well as clandestine missions emphasizing the intimate character-level story they’ve crafted,” said Lucasfilm Creative Executive Kelsey Sharpe.