Bit Reactor has revealed further details of Star Wars Zero Company, its XCOM-style tactics RPG set during the Clone Wars, via a new developer Q&A. Players lead a squad of "unconventional professionals" as a roughneck named Hawks, but notably only get access to a single Jedi Padawan character, Tel-Rea, who cannot be replaced if killed permanently in battle. This appears designed to prevent the traditional Star Wars balancing issue of Jedi characters overpowering the rest of the roster, though players can field entire squads of astromech droids like R2-D2 instead.

The game is a linear, 30-40 hour RPG with no branching plot, no romance subplots and no New Game+, though permadeath can be switched off for those who prefer it. Missions are set across 150 planets, with scoutable maps, a shared "Advantage" resource pool for special abilities, and new mission types such as sabotage and VIP rescue intended to discourage overly cautious overwatch-based tactics. There are 12 classes in total, including four "exotic" classes such as the Jedi Padawan, alongside a custom character creator. Star Wars Zero Company is due to launch on 27th August.