This New Star Wars Game Promises 50 Planets and Permadeath (Launching in 3 Weeks)
XCOM just suited up in clone armor. With Star Wars Zero Company, Electronic Arts is betting big on turn-based tactics, permadeath, and over 50 planets to conquer by the end of August. Your mission briefing starts here.
Launching August 27 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series, Star Wars Zero Company is the brainchild of XCOM veterans at Bit Reactor and the expertise of Respawn Entertainment. You’ll command Zero Company, a squad of mercenaries operating in the final days of the Clone Wars. With press previews dropping tomorrow and a 2026 gaming season already packed with AAA releases, here’s what this new Star Wars title is bringing to the table.
Image credit: Electronic Arts
A galaxy of 50 planets to explore, from Tatooine to brand-new worlds
Forget your standard mission select screens. Star Wars Zero Company builds its campaign around an interactive Galaxy Map that doubles as your strategic hub and command center. From here, every destination unlocks lucrative contracts, intel to gather, and specialized gear. Your choices shape squad relationships and unlock branching side quests—there’s no way to see everything in a single run.
As for destinations, Electronic Arts has confirmed over 50 playable planets. Expect icons like Tatooine, Coruscant, Mandalore, Naboo, Mustafar, Kashyyyk, and Bespin, plus some deep cuts for Star Wars fans:
- Christophsis, Geonosis, and Alderaan for classic war zones
- Lothal, Ryloth, and Dantooine, familiar to animated series fans
- Vandor, Mapuzo, Kaller, and Serolonis—more obscure planets tied to specific story missions
- Brentaal and the Ring of Kafrene, which serves as Zero Company’s HQ
Every world brings unique environmental hazards and tactical terrain. The devs have even hinted that secret locations could be added post-launch, so exploration won’t end after the first few weeks.
Turn-based tactical gameplay inspired by XCOM, but more accessible
XCOM’s DNA runs deep in Star Wars Zero Company—and that’s no accident: Bit Reactor’s team includes Firaxis Games veterans who worked on XCOM and Civilization. Progress is split into two distinct phases. First, you’ll roam your hideout on the Ring of Kafrene in third-person: manage the infirmary, armory, recruit new agents, and upgrade skills. Every cycle forces tough choices, since you can’t do everything at once.
Then it’s on to isometric, turn-based combat. Each agent gets 3 Action Points per turn to move, attack, use a skill, or go into Overwatch. The Advantage system adds another layer: dealing damage fills a meter that triggers devastating abilities—missile strikes, bonus AP, or a temporary boost to success rates—up to a cap of 10 Advantage Points. Permadeath kicks in at Normal difficulty: three wounds and a character is gone. For good.
To build your dream squad, eight specializations will be available at launch—from the tanky Colossus to the long-range Sniper, plus the Medic, Opportunist, and Assault Specialist. The devs promise a gentler learning curve than XCOM, aiming to win over newcomers to the genre.
An original story at the twilight of the Clone Wars
Star Wars Zero Company isn’t just rehashing battles from The Clone Wars. The game spins a brand-new tale centered on Hawks, a former Galactic Republic officer turned mercenary leader. His mission: hunt down Kundri Fathom, the mastermind behind a separatist cult called the “Infinite Spire.” The story draws inspiration from Andor and Rogue One, with a more mature tone and moral gray areas that break from the franchise’s usual black-and-white morality.
Six pre-defined characters have already been revealed, each with a fleshed-out backstory: Trick, a loyal clone soldier and Hawks’ right-hand; Tel-Rea Vokoss, a Padawan determined to honor her fallen Jedi Master; Cly Kullervo, one of the last survivors of a Mandalorian clan; Luco Bronc, a wisecracking sharpshooter from Umbara; Jae Mordant, a noblewoman and baroness of a mining citadel; and Kabb Castagne, a con artist and ex-boxer from the newly introduced Felshi species. You’ll also be able to recruit fully customizable agents from HQ, tweaking everything from their looks to their origins.
Price, editions, and press previews starting August 11
Good news for your wallet: Star Wars Zero Company is priced at $49.99 on PC and $59.99 on consoles for the Standard Edition (Steam, Epic Games Store, EA App, PS5, Xbox Series). The Deluxe Edition, which comes with several exclusive cosmetic packs, jumps to $59.99 on PC and $69.99 on consoles. Hardcore collectors can look forward to a physical edition at about $300, though its full contents are still under wraps.
On the tech side, the announced PC specs are eye-catching: 16 GB RAM for 1080p at 30 fps minimum, and 32 GB for 1440p at 60 fps. The game will take up at least 50 GB of disk space. These numbers raise questions about optimization—a topic press previews should clarify. Because tomorrow, August 11 at 4:00 PM (French time), the first hands-on impressions and unedited gameplay videos drop, giving us a real look at combat, enemy AI, and the UI’s clarity.
With its 50 planets, permadeath, and XCOM pedigree, Star Wars Zero Company looks rock-solid on paper. Tomorrow’s previews will reveal if Bit Reactor and Respawn can turn that promise into tactical reality—just three weeks before the August 27 launch.
