Star Wars Zero Company hands-on: a promising Clone Wars tactics game with serious depth

Bit Reactor, working alongside Respawn Entertainment and Lucasfilm Games, is bringing a full turn-based tactics game to PS5 on August 27 — and an early hands-on with the complete build suggests it has the chops to stand alongside the best strategy games in the Star Wars catalogue.

Star Wars Zero Company is set around 20 BBY, near the tail end of the Clone Wars. You play as Hawks, a former Republic officer now running a crew of mercenaries called Zero Company, trying to clear a debt owed to the Hutts. That job pulls them into a conspiracy involving the Infinite Coil, a Separatist-aligned cult rumoured to wield unnatural abilities. Before the campaign starts, an optional character creator lets you build Hawks from scratch — choosing from races including Togruta, Weequay, and Twi'lek, customising facial features, body type, outfits, voice, and personality type (rogue, mentor, or professional). Personality affects dialogue, while your chosen talent and weapon class shape how Hawks plays on the battlefield: snipers can carry a longarm blaster, while a more Han Solo-style build leans on a pistol. Astromech droids can also join the squad as support units, spending AP to give allies extra actions per turn — and yes, their personality can be tweaked too.

Combat runs on an Action Point system used for movement, attacks, and class-specific talents — sharpshooters get a guaranteed-hit shot, while other abilities offer party-wide stat buffs. Overwatch is in, letting you designate a zone that triggers an automatic attack if an enemy steps into it. Arenas are highly destructible, and mission objectives vary from rescuing wounded allies to demolishing target objects. Beyond the tactical battles, certain areas open up for on-foot exploration — hubs where you can gather clues, talk to NPCs, and pick up side information that feeds into the broader story.

The Clone Wars era is one of the richest and most underserved periods in Star Wars gaming, and Zero Company looks like a serious attempt to fill that gap. With a release date of August 27 and a full build already playable, Bit Reactor appears confident in what it has built — the remaining question is whether the full campaign sustains the depth the early hours promise.