Star Wars: Zero Company launches August 27 at $49.99 — cheaper than most AAA games
Star Wars: Zero Company now has a release date — August 27, 2026 — and a price that stands out: $49.99 on PC, $59.99 on console. That's meaningfully below the $69.99 that recent Star Wars titles like the Jedi series launched at, and well under the $70 that has quietly become the new AAA floor. Pre-orders are open now on Steam, Epic Games Store, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
The studio behind it
Developer Bit Reactor is a Maryland-based studio founded by veterans of Firaxis Games — the team responsible for XCOM: Enemy Unknown and XCOM 2. Creative director Greg Foertsch worked on both titles. This is Bit Reactor's first release, made in collaboration with Respawn Entertainment and Lucasfilm Games. The XCOM pedigree is the clearest reason to pay attention: that series redefined turn-based tactics for a mainstream audience, and Zero Company is built on the same bones, per TechTimes.
What you're actually playing
The game is set during the final stretch of the Clone Wars, with the Republic already tipping toward the Empire. Anakin Skywalker appears, still on the right side of the Force. The player controls Hawcs, a former Republic officer who leads Zero Company — a squad of elite mercenaries that includes a Jedi, droids, Mandalorians, and other franchise staples.
Gameplay follows the XCOM template: field a small squad, complete turn-based missions, develop characters between sorties, and shape the story through dialogue choices. The wrinkle is a relationship system — squad members who get along fight more effectively together, while those who don't may lose focus or actively undermine each other in the field. It adds a layer of personnel management that could make squad composition genuinely meaningful.
Pricing and timing
Two editions are available. The Standard Edition runs $49.99 on PC and $59.99 on console. The Deluxe Edition — digital only — is $59.99 on PC and $69.99 on console, and includes cosmetic extras, per Gagadget EN. A physical Standard Edition is also available for console buyers.
The August 27 window keeps Zero Company clear of the fall crunch — GTA 6 and Forza Horizon 6 are both expected in September — giving it room to breathe without competing against the year's biggest releases. For strategy fans who've wanted a Star Wars game that plays nothing like a third-person action title, this is the one to watch.