Why Star Wars: Zero Company is a Game for Andor and Rogue One Fans

The Star Wars franchise is known for its many video game adaptations, and the new game, Star Wars: Zero Company, scheduled to come out in 2026, shows that trend will continue. Like other successful Star Wars games such as Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and The Force Unleashed, Zero Company will tell a brand new story set within the existing Star Wars universe.

Instead of focusing on famous heroes, Star Wars: Zero Company tells the story of ordinary people in the Star Wars universe. The game follows the Zero Company, a diverse group made up of new Jedi, criminals, and Republic soldiers, led by Hawks – a player-created character. Hawks is a former Republic officer who was removed from duty and now leads the Company in an independent fight against the Separatists. Set during the final days of the Clone Wars, this unlikely team will have to fight hard and overcome many challenges to succeed, no matter the cost.

The resemblance between Star Wars: Zero Company and XCOM isn’t accidental. The team at Bit Reactor, who created Zero Company, includes many people who previously worked on XCOM and Marvel’s Midnight Suns.

Star Wars: Zero Company Wants to Show Players the Rough Underbelly of Star Wars

The announcement trailer for Star Wars: Zero Company immediately establishes the game’s atmosphere. It opens with a sequence of cinematic scenes accompanied by narration from a distinctly Southern, rough-voiced character, setting the stage for the story to come.

You know, when people talk about the Clone Wars, they always focus on the huge battles – the planets getting invaded, the cities destroyed. But honestly, there’s a whole other war happening that nobody really talks about. It’s the secret stuff, fought in the shadows. It’s about smart planning, cracking codes, and just plain messing with the enemy. These aren’t the flashy heroes you hear about in stories, though. These are the pros, the people who put aside what makes them different and just get the job done, even when it seems impossible.

This isn’t the typical Star Wars story you might expect. Forget wise, robed Jedi masters and young heroes destined to save the galaxy. Zero Company focuses on the gritty realities of war, showing the less glamorous side of galactic conflict – the work done by those who aren’t celebrated as heroes. The game aims to immerse players in the world of characters like Han Solo, rather than the more traditional hero’s journey of Luke Skywalker.

Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.

Easy (5)Medium (7)Hard (10)

Your Order

Results

— —

More Games

This method aims to make the world of Star Wars more relatable and offer a new take on the familiar story. It could attract both longtime fans and newcomers – fans might appreciate a fresh angle, while those unfamiliar with the lore wouldn’t feel overwhelmed by it. This approach positions Zero Company similarly to projects like Rogue One, Andor, and Solo by focusing on the experiences of those on the fringes of the larger galactic conflict.

A Gritty and Down-to-Earth Star Wars Is a Perfect Fit for the XCOM Formula

While Star Wars: Zero Company will share similarities with XCOM in its turn-based tactical combat – featuring cover-based gameplay and cinematic moments that emphasize player characters – it won’t be a simple reskin. The game also includes third-person exploration sections that are said to be high-quality, offering a unique experience beyond what Firaxis has done with the XCOM series.

The game’s intensity and realism are boosted by the fact that any character you control (except Hawks) can permanently die during missions. This creates a real sense of risk and consequence, similar to what makes shows like Andor so compelling – they feel grounded and believable, like authentic sci-fi stories. Permadeath is a perfect way to capture that same feeling in a game.

Zero Company’s Star Wars Setting Gives It a Special Narrative Advantage

Star Wars: Zero Company has the potential to be a standout title, offering a fresh narrative approach within both the tactical strategy and Star Wars universes. It’s a welcome change from the epic stories of characters like Cal Kestis and Rey Skywalker, and it might even surpass XCOM in terms of gameplay and strategic depth.

I get really attached to my soldiers in XCOM 2, mostly because I spend so much time playing with them. It’s interesting because the game is designed for you to lose them – they aren’t really developed as characters within the story itself. Instead, their personalities come through how they fight and the customizations I choose for them. Ultimately, they feel like characters I create in my own imagination.

The upcoming game, Star Wars Zero Company, promises a story-driven experience with both original and established characters who will fight alongside you as part of the narrative. This focus on individual characters, combined with the potential for permanent character loss, could create a more emotionally impactful game than even the XCOM series. Leveraging the expansive Star Wars universe, Zero Company has the potential to become a long-lasting and captivating tactical RPG with a strong narrative focus.

Read More

2026-03-30 19:38