Star Wars Zero Company wants to be more than XCOM with lightsabers: “Gamers are more sophisticated now”
Developing story first seen 3 hours ago
Star Wars Zero Company’s developers say the forthcoming strategy game is intended to offer more than a Star Wars-themed version of XCOM. They argue that strategy players now expect deeper, more sophisticated systems, making the project significant as an attempt to broaden the genre within a major franchise.
The game appears to combine squad-based tactical gameplay with Star Wars elements such as lightsabers, but its creators are emphasising distinct ambitions beyond that comparison. The article frames this as a response to an audience they believe has become more discerning about strategy games.
- Developers want Zero Company to exceed simple XCOM comparisons.
- The game aims for deeper strategy systems.
- Star Wars provides the setting, not the whole concept.
New here? Start with this
Star Wars Zero Company is an upcoming strategy game set in the Star Wars universe, being developed with input from Lucasfilm Games. It has drawn comparisons to XCOM, a well-known series of turn-based tactical games where players command a squad of soldiers through missions, because Zero Company appears to follow a similar format but with Star Wars characters and weapons such as lightsabers.
The story centres on comments from the game's developers, who say they want the title to be judged as more than a themed reskin of an existing formula. Their argument rests on the idea that people who play strategy games today are more experienced and expect greater depth than in the past.
This matters because it reflects a broader challenge for big franchise games: balancing familiar, proven mechanics with enough originality to stand on their own merits, in a genre with a small but dedicated fanbase.
More coverage
Business Celebrity Companies Entertainment Gaming Software Technology