Bit Reactor CEO Greg Foertsch calls it an "important step forward"

Star Wars: Zero Company maker Bit Reactor is bringing back developers who were furloughed ahead of launch.

"This week, we started the process of returning more of our team back to work at Bit Reactor, an important step forward in our continued support for Zero Company," studio CEO Greg Foertsch said in an online statement from today. "Having to ask team members to step away after we navigated unexpected business developments outside of our control and so close to launch was an incredibly difficult decision, but one that was necessary to help us eventually bring as many people back as possible.

"This team means a tremendous amount to me, and I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together," Foertsch continued. "Thank you to our fans for the incredible response to the game and for supporting us along this journey. We look forward to sharing more updates regarding Bit Reactor and Zero Company soon."

Weeks before the acclaimed tactics game came out, the studio reportedly furloughed around 80% of its workforce, which means "most" staff were sent on a leave of absence without pay or benefits. Bit Reactor seemingly ran out of cash to pay its workers, following a legal battle between co-founders Alison Kelly and Foertsch, who has sole ownership of the company.

Bit Reactor doesn't specify how many of its developers have returned to work, though Game File recently reported that more than half of the studio's overall headcount is back on payroll, citing a source familiar with the situation. A fair number of workers are still left in limbo, then.

Star Wars: Zero Company was a big hit right out of the gate, quickly selling over 1m copies and winning over fans by transporting XCOMs best bits to a galaxy far, far away. Here's hoping the rest of the team can come back soon.

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