Star Wars Zero Company launches August 27 — XCOM veterans bring permadeath to the Clone Wars
Star Wars Zero Company arrives on August 27, 2026, and it's shaping up to be one of the more interesting tactics games in years. Developed by Bit Reactor — a Maryland studio founded in 2021 by former Firaxis veterans who worked on XCOM 2 and Civilization — alongside Respawn Entertainment and Lucasfilm Games, it's a full-budget single-player experience set during the final days of the Clone Wars. No multiplayer, no battle pass, no early access tier: the whole game drops globally at 3:00 PM UTC on day one.
The setup
You play as Hawk, a former Republic officer commanding a scrappy squad of mercenaries — Jedi, Mandalorians, droids, ex-stormtroopers, and a few outright criminals. The story runs through some of the galaxy's worst flashpoints as the Republic slides toward becoming the Empire. Anakin Skywalker appears before his turn to the dark side, which will be either a draw or a spoiler depending on how you feel about the prequels.
The mechanics
The bones are familiar to anyone who's lost a squad mate to a bad RNG roll in XCOM. Turn-based tactical combat, small squad deployments, mission selection, and character progression all feature. Between missions, you return to base in third-person and build relationships with your crew — because Bit Reactor has baked in a full bond system. Friends fight better together and cover each other; rivals will actively let teammates die or even engineer accidents to thin the ranks. Stakes feel real, which is exactly what this genre needs.
Campaign length is confirmed at 40–50 hours. Permadeath is in. Post-launch DLC plans haven't been announced, though EA's recent track record suggests cosmetics rather than paid story expansions.
Price and availability
The Standard Edition costs $49.99 on PC (Steam, Epic Games Store, EA App) and $59.99 on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. The Deluxe Edition runs $59.99 on PC and $69.99 on console. A $299.99 physical Collector's Edition from Limited Run Games had pre-orders close on August 23.
No regional pricing for the UK has been officially confirmed, but EA's standard parity pricing typically lands around £44.99 and £54.99 respectively — worth checking Steam and the PlayStation Store closer to launch. The worldwide unlock happens simultaneously, so no waiting around for a regional delay.