In a shocking behind-the-scenes revelation, the massive critical success of a recent Star Wars video game masks a period of severe internal turmoil for its creators. Bit Reactor, the development studio founded by seasoned XCOM veterans, reportedly furloughed up to 80% of its workforce just before the game's release.
According to recent reports, the drastic staff reductions were triggered when the company effectively ran out of money. This financial collapse allegedly occurred amidst a "bitter dispute," forcing studio leadership to sideline the vast majority of the development team before the project could even reach consumers.
The situation highlights the often volatile reality of the modern video game industry, standing in stark contrast to the project's eventual public triumph. While the title has been celebrated as one of the best-reviewed Star Wars games in years, this pre-launch financial crisis means that the very developers responsible for its success were left out in the cold before they could celebrate their achievement.