Anakin Skywalker Is Playable in Star Wars Zero Company
The previews confirm that a Star Wars licensed title built on XCOM-style tactics is arriving with a fully controllable Anakin Skywalker, a detail that distinguishes this release from typical guest appearances in the franchise's games.
Key Facts
- Star Wars Zero Company releases on August 27, 2026, for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
- The Standard Edition costs 8,400 yen and the Deluxe Edition costs 9,800 yen.
- Anakin Skywalker appears as a playable character in an early mission of the preview build.
- The permadeath option is enabled by default and cannot be changed after starting the game.
- Development is led by Greg Foertsch at Bit Reactor, a studio with former Firaxis staff who worked on XCOM.
Reporting from 3 sources: GAME Watch (Impress), 4Gamer.net, Game Spark.
Electronic Arts will release Star Wars Zero Company on August 27, 2026, for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The turn-based strategy game is set at the end of the Clone Wars, between Episode II and Episode III. Players command Hawks, a former Republic army officer, leading a mercenary unit called Zero Company that includes former Separatists, former Republic soldiers, nobles, and former convicts. The unit hunts a paramilitary cult called the Infinite Coil, led by Kundrii Fathom, who infects followers with a disease called the Shadow Plague. Development is led by Greg Foertsch at Bit Reactor, a studio with former Firaxis staff who worked on XCOM. Battle systems include cover, elevation, overwatch, and a permadeath option that is enabled by default and cannot be changed after starting the game. Anakin Skywalker appears as a playable character in an early mission, and the preview describes him as overwhelmingly powerful, able to use the Force to knock enemies off ledges. The base of operations is the Den, a decommissioned cargo ship docked at the Ring of Kafrene from Rogue One. Music is composed by Gordy Haab, who won a Grammy for Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.
The preview build covered by GAME Watch, 4Gamer.net, and Game Spark runs through the opening missions, including the formation of Zero Company and the first encounter with Anakin. The three outlets agree on the core systems: each operative has 3 action points per turn, cover reduces hit chance, and overwatch triggers reaction shots that consume all remaining AP. A downed operative suffers an injury, and three injuries cause permanent death when the permadeath option is on.
Game Spark emphasizes the emotional weight of permanent loss, noting that bonds between operatives grow through mutual training, and losing a trained ally carries more weight than a simple reduction in combat strength. The outlet also reports that the game's era includes Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano, Count Dooku, General Grievous, and Darth Maul's Shadow Collective. 4Gamer.net describes the bond system in more detail, where healing and supporting allies raises bond levels and unlocks training effects such as increased long-range damage or grenade throwing distance. The same article notes that emergency decision events force players to choose between stopping one of two enemy power-up plans, with no option that satisfies everyone.
GAME Watch reports that Beskar Mode disables manual saving for a harder experience, and that the Jedi Padawan Tel-Reia appears early but is not invincible. The previews were based on a development build, so some specifications may differ from the final release.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 3 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.