Bit Reactor, the Maryland-based company behind this summer’s well-received tactical combat game Star Wars Zero Company says “more” of its team members are returning to work after being furloughed before the game’s release.
This is the studio’s first statement on the matter since the release of Game File. August report that “most” of the development team had been furloughed— technically kept as employees, but without pay or benefits — a few weeks before launch.
Some of these holidays ended this week.
“This week, we began the process of returning more of our team to work at Bit Reactor, an important step in our continued support of Zero Company,” Greg Foertsch, CEO of Bit Reactor, said in a statement.
He continued:
“Having to ask team members to step down after going through unexpected business developments beyond our control and so close to launch was an incredibly difficult decision, but one that was necessary to help us bring back as many people as possible.
“This team means a lot to me and I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished together. Thank you to our fans for the incredible response to the game and for supporting us throughout this journey. We look forward to sharing more updates regarding Bit Reactor and Zero Company soon.”
Game File reported in August that Bit Reactor had retained a small team to work on Zero Company updates.
A person close to the situation told Game File that the returns announced today bring the studio’s headcount to more than half of what it was before the furlough. This means that a considerable number of people have been repatriated, but many also remain unpaid.
While U.S. companies are often legally required to publicly disclose the number of people they have laid off, furloughs can often remain confidential for a period of time.
The U.S. Department of Labor requires companies to publicly report mass layoffs if they meet specific criteria, including any expectation of duration. more than six months. For game creators who remain on furlough at Bit Reactor, it’s been about two months now.
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To learn more about Bit Reactor, the furloughs, the studio’s history, and the ongoing lawsuit that brought this to light, read my August report.
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