Star Wars Zero Company is jam-packed with everything we love about Star Wars, but the core concept is different. Developers Bit Reactor (the same team that previously worked on XCOM at Firaxis) took the iconic tactical mechanics and transplanted them to the Clone Wars era. It worked brilliantly—Star Wars Zero Company has already been dubbed “XCOM in the Star Wars universe.” And those aren’t just empty words: it features tactical combat, permadeath, and squad leveling—everything we love.
At Summer Game Fest 2026, the studio finally unveiled a full gameplay trailer and announced the release date: August 27, 2026. It’s coming to PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. And, tellingly, publisher Electronic Arts deliberately chose the end of August. Why? To avoid going head-on with September heavyweights like GTA 6. This decision is rather controversial, but it might just save the game from being trashed by the press.
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Star Wars Zero Company’s gameplay is like XCOM in a galaxy far, far away
The comparison is obvious when you find out who’s behind the controls. Bit Reactor was founded by former Firaxis Games employees—the same people who brought the world the XCOM reboot and XCOM 2. So, Zero Company has plenty of mechanics familiar to tactical fans:
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Turn-based combat: a squad of four soldiers, each with three action points per turn. Moving, attacking, or using a skill is a classic.
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Cover system and hit chances: yes, you can get mad here too when 95% of your shots fly right past you. The developers didn’t abandon the beloved hardcore feature.
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A strategic layer between missions: return to the Lair base, communicate with your teammates, purchase equipment, and heal wounds—in the spirit of Mass Effect, but with an XCOM twist.
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Permadeath: if your operative falls on the battlefield, they’re gone. The story continues without them. The exception is the protagonist, Hawkes: his death means an immediate game over.
But it would be boring to simply copy them. The developers have added their own twists, which are a pleasant surprise.
Turn-based combat and XCOM mechanics in the new game
If you spent hundreds of hours playing XCOM 2: War of the Chosen, you’ll feel right at home in Zero Company. Here are the key points we’ve borrowed from there:
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Action Points: Base—three actions per turn. You can move, shoot, or use an item.
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Hit Chance: Prayers for success are still there. The cover system (full and partial) affects the final percentage.
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Reconnaissance and zone control: Before rushing into battle, you’ll have to think. Flanking maneuvers and firefights from cover are the basics.
How Zero Company differs from classic Firaxis tactics
This is where things get interesting. Bit Reactor didn’t reskin the game, but reimagined the mechanics:
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Third-person exploration: Out of combat, the camera switches to an over-the-shoulder perspective—just like in Jedi: Fallen Order. Before battle, you can freely wander the locations, collect loot, and talk to NPCs.
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Relationship system: Soldiers who frequently pair up receive buffs. They gain special moves, dialogue, and even conflicts. This is closer to an RPG than a pure tactical simulator.
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Text-based operations: Between missions, the player selects missions on a holographic map. Some are presented as text-based dilemmas from Pillars of Eternity—choices affect reputation and resources.
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100% base accuracy: Unlike XCOM, where the base hit chance starts at 65%, in Zero Company it’s always 100%. Penalties only apply from enemy cover. This is a controversial decision, but it reduces frustration at the very beginning.
Permadeath and the Soldier Bond System
Permadeath in Zero Company has acquired additional conditions. If a wounded soldier is not treated in the field or after combat, their wounds progress to the next stage. In the long term, this can lead to death, even if they don’t fall in battle.
The “Bond” relationship system works both ways. Partners who fight together unlock new abilities. But if they have conflicting dialogues at base, their combat effectiveness declines. In XCOM, this was negligible. In Zero Company, it’s no longer the case.
Star Wars Zero Company Plot: Anakin Skywalker and the Connection to Jedi Survivor
The plot, by the way, is being written by Aaron Contreras, author of the Star Wars Jedi duology (Fallen Order and Survivor). The main villain is Kundry Fathom, the leader of the Infinite Spiral Cult, who has allied with the Separatists. Intriguing. And yes, there was a glimpse of Anakin Skywalker in the trailer, with Gayden Christensen’s face on. It’s unclear whether they’ll let you control him, but they’ve clearly built in some serious fan service.
The standard edition is priced at $49.99 on PC and $59.99 on consoles. The Deluxe Edition adds cosmetics—five weapon skins and two additional outfit sets. Pre-ordering will also grant you a customization pack for the astromech droid. No pay-to-win—visuals only.
