STACK #262 August 2026

GAMING FEATURE

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of Firaxis games such as XCOM and Civilization - will also feel right at home. “We also still have challenging modes for people who want

DROID RAGE! An in-game shop lets you create and customise your very own droid to accompany you throughout the game.

them,” says Funk. “We wanted a game that was approachable for Star Wars fans who don’t know tactics, and a tactics game for people who might not know Star Wars . Both factions have an entry point to jump in and play.” The Bit Reactor team saw Zero Company as a chance to introduce some new and exciting features to the turn-based strategy genre. “We can’t wait for people to try out the teamwork and bonds system in the game,” enthuses Funk. “We’ve crafted a system that adds an extra layer of immersion and narrative for players and their squads. “When building the narrative in Zero Company , it was essential for us to emphasise the feeling of positive and negative bonds with teammates and how relationships are affected in combat through conversations in The Den. We want people to feel the weight of their choices and have a connection to the characters as they embark on missions.”

GENRE: Turn-based tactics MULTIPLAYER: No

FORMAT:

The Star Wars video game universe expands this month with the arrival of Star Wars Zero Company . A turn-based strategy affair, it’s a collaboration between new development team Bit Reactor, and old hands with Star Wars games Respawn.We chatted with lead producer Caydence Funk and narrative director Aaron Contreras to learn more. Words Amy Flower CLONES! SEND IN THE

The Star Wars universe has given us so many

stories, yet Zero Company offers its players a chance to forge their own unique tales, which really excites Funk. “We hope players take away their own story. While there is a shared narrative that players will have as they progress

• Star Wars Zero Company is out Aug 27

S tory-wise Zero Company deftly weaves original content in with established Star Wars lore, as Contreras explains. “You’ll play as Hawks, a fully customisable character who is the leader of Zero Company, an elite squad operating during the height of the Clone Wars. The unit soon finds itself locked in a deadly conflict with the Infinite Coil, a paramilitary cult infected with the malevolent Shadow Plague.” Inspiration for this new story came from all over the Star Wars universe. “ A New Hope is my creative north star for Star Wars storytelling,” admits Contreras. “We also drew direct inspiration from the prequel trilogy, The Clone Wars animated series, Andor , and Rogue One ; those latter two are especially relevant for our grounded, squad-scale action.” But Contreras tells us that the team also looked beyond established Star Wars territory. “We've infused the story of Zero Company with select ingredients of screwball comedy, film noir, mid-century espionage thrillers, and psychedelic horror. We want to give players an experience that feels fresh and original while remaining authentic to the heart and soul of the great Star Wars stories that have come before.” Turn-based strategy will be new to many fans

through the game, what really comes out of it is the team that you’ve built was forged in combat. You

have a unique and personal story of your Zero Company that you can share with others – what your Hawks did, how Cly helped at a pivotal moment, or a character you created that you brought with you as a healer that rescued the team. “These moments create stories that players can keep with them for years to come. I have stories like this from games I’ve played. It’s so impactful to have something you can build and keep with you, and we’re grateful to give that opportunity to our community.”

of Star Wars , however Funk – who is just one of several former XCOM developer Firaxis people now at Bit Reactor - reassures us that players new to the genre will feel welcome. “We made this game with the goal of bringing in new players to the tactics genre. There are a lot of Star Wars fans out there and we wanted to engage and encourage them all to play Star Wars Zero Company . We made it a mission to be considerate in crafting the difficulty selections. “It’s why we wanted to provide a story difficulty mode to make our game more accessible. That way, anyone can easily jump in and engage with the story.” However, established fans of the genre – and

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