Star Wars Zero Company wants to be more than XCOM with lightsabers: “Gamers are more sophisticated now”
Developed over time first seen 2 months ago
Developers behind Star Wars Zero Company have said they want the upcoming tactical strategy game to be more than simply a Star Wars-flavoured take on XCOM, arguing that today's strategy fans expect deeper and more sophisticated systems. The comments position the game as an attempt to push the genre forward within a major franchise, rather than lean solely on the novelty of familiar Star Wars trappings to carry it.
The title itself nods to the comparison the team is trying to move beyond, pairing squad-based tactical combat with Star Wars staples such as lightsabers. Its creators frame the added depth as a deliberate response to a strategy-gaming audience they see as more discerning than in the past, though the article offers few further specifics on release plans or gameplay mechanics.
- Zero Company devs say it's more than "XCOM with lightsabers"
- Team cites more sophisticated strategy-gaming audience
- Combines squad tactics with Star Wars setting
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