Star Wars: Zero Company is an ambitious combination of XCOM and RPG designed for newcomers.

      Screenshot

      EA

      Star Wars: Zero Company has been officially announced at Star Wars Celebration Japan and is set to release sometime in 2026 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series. The game merges the intense tactics of XCOM with the expansive lore of the Star Wars universe. Taking place during the final phase of the Clone Wars, Zero Company embraces challenging gameplay while also making an effort to welcome new players to the tactical genre.

      “Our vision for Star Wars Zero Company is based on gameplay design principles that integrate the immersive Star Wars galaxy with engaging turn-based tactical gameplay,” stated Greg Foertsch, CEO and Creative Director at Bit Reactor. “We aim to create a game featuring an original Star Wars narrative from the Clone Wars era that results in significant consequences based on player decisions, alongside intricate turn-based combat presented in an approachable and cinematic manner.”

      Zero Company boasts an impressive background that raises expectations for the game. It is being developed through collaboration with Bit Reactor—comprising veterans from Firaxis—along with Respawn Entertainment and Lucasfilm Games, all of whom are experts in this genre and have a passion for Star Wars.

      You’ll have the opportunity to develop your squad and recruit soldiers as the campaign progresses, and since permadeath is a component, the story will shift if you lose a soldier in battle. However, you can choose to disable permadeath for a more accessible experience. In between missions, you will establish a base of operations where you can customize your squad and unlock various perks to aid you in combat.

      The protagonist of the game is named Hawks, and according to Foertsch, it seems that Zero Company incorporates some RPG elements. “Hawks’ appearance and combat class can be thoroughly customized, while recruited operatives can be tailored from an array of original Star Wars character classes and species. You can modify squadmates’ appearances, gear, and abilities across a wide range of character archetypes, including Clone Troopers, astromechs, and even a Jedi. While in action, members of Zero Company will build relationships that unlock powerful combat synergies capable of shifting the battle's outcome. With nearly limitless possibilities and high-stakes scenarios that could alter the galaxy's fate, players must engage in meticulous preparation, strategic prowess, and assemble the right team to triumph.”

      Patrick Hearn writes about smart home technology like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, smart light bulbs, and more. If it's a…

      With EA’s Star Wars shooter canceled, it’s time to revisit a classic

      In the wake of layoffs at the end of February, EA scrapped a Star Wars first-person shooter that was in development at Respawn Entertainment, the creators of Apex Legends. Given that this genre was once a stronghold for Star Wars, and considering Respawn's expertise demonstrated in games like Titanfall 2, the cancellation hit hard, even if it's minor compared to the job losses from EA’s layoffs. If you're craving a Star Wars FPS and don't want to wait for the Star Wars: Battlefront remaster coming later this month, there’s good news.

      On February 28, Nightdive Studios, owned by Atari, released Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster. Utilizing the proprietary KEX Engine, which has been used in remasters of classic Turok and Quake games, Nightdive revitalized the 1995 MS-DOS and Macintosh shooter that follows Rebel mercenary Kyle Katarn. Having played the game for the first time in 2024, I've found that it still holds up remarkably well and is worth trying out, especially if you're anxious about the future of Star Wars games.

      Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is the culmination of the series’ rocky gaming history

      I’ve replayed the opening heist scene in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor multiple times, and it inevitably prompts me to think about what might have been with Star Wars 1313, the franchise's most notorious canceled game. The prospect of an Uncharted-style game featuring Boba Fett in the depths of the Coruscant underworld is such a compelling concept that I've mourned the loss of a game I never got to experience for over a decade. Yet, playing through Survivor's introduction doesn’t leave me feeling disappointed about 1313. Instead, I'm glad that at least a part of that idea has come to fruition.

      The Metroidvania-like level design and Lightsaber-and-Force-centric combat of Survivor differ significantly from what was anticipated from 1313. However, the essence of creatively navigating and battling through a gritty Coruscant level during a heist was indeed realized. Reflecting on the abandoned project before this year’s Star Wars Day, I had an epiphany about Respawn Entertainment’s latest offering. Although technically a sequel to Fallen Order, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor feels like a culmination of over ten years of Star Wars games, both those that were released and those that were shelved.

      A walk through Star Wars gaming history

      As I grew up,