Today is a good day to be a Star Wars fan with a fondness for strategy games. Star Wars Zero Company officially launched on August 27, 2026, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S — and the reviews that landed ahead of launch are almost unanimously glowing.
Developed by Bit Reactor, a studio founded by Firaxis XCOM veterans, in collaboration with Respawn Entertainment and published by EA and Lucasfilm Games, Zero Company is a turn-based tactical RPG set during the Clone Wars era. You command an elite squad through a gritty, original story — making decisions that reshape your unit and the galaxy around them.
The critical reception is hard to ignore. PC Gamer scored it 90/100, calling it "a new all-timer Star Wars story" in the same breath as Knights of the Old Republic and TIE Fighter. Windows Central declared it "turn-based tactics at its absolute best, and a new bar for the genre." TechRaptor awarded 9/10; Game Informer gave 8/10, writing that it "scratches the same itch that XCOM always has."
What makes Zero Company stand out beyond pure mechanics is the storytelling. Respawn's narrative DNA is all over it — the environments between battles are detailed and explorable, the characters feel distinct, and the permadeath system makes every loss feel meaningful. The story is set during a Clone Wars chapter untold in the films or animated series, which means it earns its place in canon rather than leaning on nostalgia.
One caveat worth noting: early reports flag that mid-battle crashes can erase permadeath progress. It's a technical issue Bit Reactor will presumably patch, but for players leaning into the permadeath mode, it's worth keeping manual saves handy until a fix lands.
Despite that wrinkle, Zero Company looks like the kind of Star Wars game the franchise badly needed: a premium, single-player, battle-pass-free experience that respects its players' time and intelligence. At $49.99 on PC and $59.99 on console, it's priced like a game that intends to earn it.
If you've been burned by Star Wars games before, the XCOM pedigree here is a meaningful signal. Bit Reactor knows the genre — and it shows.