Star Wars Zero Company probably isn't what most expected from Star Wars' gaming endeavors, but it's certainly a welcome surprise. The upcoming game is being marketed as a single-player, turn-based tactics game, developed by the newly christened Bit Reactor with some help from Respawn. Needless to say, a turn-based tactics game is a far fry from Respawn's other Star Wars projects.
But it would appear that Star Wars Zero Company is in more than capable hands, as Bit Reactor is composed of former Firaxis developers. Firaxis is a rather prolific studio, best known for its work on the Sid Meier's Civilization and XCOM franchises, so it can be inferred that Zero Company will have at least some of those games' DNA. Perhaps it will be something like "XCOM, but Star Wars," which would no doubt be a tantalizing elevator pitch for many science-fiction gaming fans. However Zero Company turns out, though, what it represents for the broader Star Wars franchise is far more significant. That is to say, it indicates an embracing of non-mainstream genre experimentation, which will hopefully lead to a wider variety of Star Wars gaming projects down the road.
Firaxis is no stranger to experimentation with Disney properties: the studio was responsible for Marvel's Midnight Suns, a turn-based strategy deck-builder featuring Marvel characters.
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Star Wars Zero Company Should Be the Beginning of More Left-Field Star Wars Games
Zero Company Bucks Star Wars Audience Expectations
Respawn's Star Wars Jedi games are fantastic, but they are fairly predictable, at least in terms of their broad-strokes premise: Star Wars is an action-adventure franchise first and foremost, with the original films being heavily centered on good versus evil, and the triumph of individual heroes like Luke Skywalker over seemingly insurmountable odds. Thus, a combat-centric action-adventure game, following a heroic band of outcasts, is fairly on-brand for the Star Wars franchise. Even a game like Star Wars Outlaws, which purports to explore the seedy underbelly of the Star Wars universe, is still framed by a fairly typical open-world formula, likely in an attempt to appeal to the widest audience possible.
Whatever one thinks of turn-based tactics games like XCOM, it's safe to say that they aren't exactly mainstream, at least not to the same degree as single-player action games or open-world extravaganzas like the aforementioned IP. Thus, a game like Star Wars Zero Company is designed with a specific audience in mind, rather than adhering to a popular trend that would be guaranteed to wrangle in the widest array of players. This is exciting, and should only be the first drop in the bucket.
Other Genres Star Wars Games Should Explore
Assuming that Star Wars Zero Company is at least modestly successful, there's a strong chance that future video game adaptations could leverage over less-ubiquitous genres in their Star Wars experiences. It wouldn't be too hard to imagine a well-crafted Star Wars fighting game, JRPG, or city-builder, to name just a few examples. Other video game genres with a lot of potential include:
- Deck-builder
- Roguelike (ala Hades)
- Simulation
- Character-action
Star Wars has dipped its toes into such genres in the past, but the franchise seems to have gotten slightly more conservative in recent years, abandoning more out-there endeavors like Star Wars 1313 and The Force Unleashed. But Star Wars is a vast and beefy IP, filled with a wide variety of different characters, settings, and conflicts; it's only right that its video game adaptations should be just as diverse. With Star Wars Zero Company on the way, there's no reason why the series should be hogtied to one, or even a handful, of genres.
Star Wars Outlaws
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 75 /100 Critics Rec: 68%
- Released
- August 30, 2024
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Violence, Simulated Gambling, Mild Language
- Developer(s)
- Massive Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Ubisoft, Lucasfilm Games
- Engine
- Snowdrop
- Franchise
- Star Wars
WHERE TO PLAY
Experience the first-ever open world Star Wars game and explore distinct planets across the galaxy, both iconic and new. Risk it all as Kay Vess, an emerging scoundrel seeking freedom and the means to start a new life. Fight, steal, & outwit your way through the galaxy’s crime syndicates as you join the galaxy’s most wanted. If you’re willing to take the risk, the galaxy is full of opportunity.
DISCOVER A GALAXY OF OPPORTUNITY
Explore distinct planets with bustling cities and cantinas before racing across sprawling outdoor landscapes on your speeder. Each planet brings new adventures, unique challenges, and enticing rewards if you’re willing to take the risk.
EXPERIENCE AN ORIGINAL SCOUNDREL STORY
Live the high-stakes lifestyle of an outlaw. With Nix by your side, turn any situation to your advantage: fight with your blaster, overcome enemies with stealth and gadgets, or find the right moments to distract enemies and gain the upper hand.
EMBARK ON HIGH-STAKES MISSIONS
Take on high-risk, high-reward missions from the galaxy’s crime syndicates. Steal valuable goods, infiltrate secret locations, and outwit enemies as one of the galaxy’s most wanted. Every choice you make influences your ever-changing reputation.
JUMP INTO THE PILOT SEAT
Pilot your ship, The Trailblazer, as you engage in thrilling dogfights with The Empire and other foes, finding the right opportunities to chase, evade, and attack to get the upper hand.
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Action-Adventure
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
