The story takes place around 20 BBY, late in the Clone Wars. Hawks leads an independent outfit specializing in covert investigation and tactical operations after leaving the Republic behind.
Zero Company's target is the Infinite Coil, a Separatist-aligned paramilitary cult led by Kundri Fathom and connected to a deadly shadow plague.
The protagonist is customizable; the ending mostly is not
Hawks can be customized by species, appearance, clothing, name and combat specialization. Most cinematics are rendered in real time so the character created by the player remains visible in story scenes.
Bit Reactor has deliberately stopped short of building a branching RPG around that freedom. There are no romance systems and the overall story follows a linear path. Squad composition, Bonds and some choices can alter individual moments, but the broad ending remains shared.
The studio estimates 30 to 40 hours for the main campaign.
A Clone Trooper and an Umbaran have to learn to share a company
Trick served beside Hawks in the Republic military. Luco Bronc defended Umbara against that same Republic and still carries the consequences. Cly Kullervo is a Mandalorian driven by revenge, while Jedi Padawan Tel-Rea Vokoss is trying to finish her dead Master's final mission.
Runa Blask is a Separatist who keeps Zero Company's operations running while also wanting the Infinite Coil destroyed.
Those contradictions are not purely characterization. Every pair of Operators has a Bond that can change through missions, assists and story Dilemmas.
Friendship eventually becomes a combat statistic
Improving a Bond generates progression opportunities and unlocks Cross Training. Two characters who become sufficiently close can share permanent stat improvements, with a special Passive Ability waiting at the highest relationship level.
The system has a hard edge because standard settings enable permadeath. An Operator who accumulates three Injuries can be removed permanently, leaving both the tactical roster and their relationships behind.
Familiar Clone Wars voices still appear around the new cast
Matt Lanter returns as Anakin Skywalker. Dee Bradley Baker once again voices the Clone Troopers and also performs Trick.
Jonathan Freeman and Erica Luttrell provide the two versions of Hawks, Rekha Sharma plays Kundri Fathom, Vic Michaelis voices Runa Blask and D.C. Douglas plays M-3VO.
Gordy Haab composed the score, which Walt Disney Records is releasing alongside the game on August 27.
Its enormous galaxy map is primarily a strategic one
More than 150 planets can appear in the Galaxy Map layer, where Operations provide resources, decisions and narrative events. Tactical combat takes place across more than a dozen fully developed planets rather than all 150.
Confirmed battlefield destinations include Bespin, Dantooine, Lothal and Ryloth.
Electronic Arts schedules Star Wars Zero Company to unlock at 15:00 UTC on August 27 for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
