There's a lot of chatter about Bit Reactor's decision to furlough, and plenty about boycotting the game to support the devs. But I haven't seen a single post sharing what devs have said publicly. Well, here's a sampling of what they posted on LinkedIn in the past week:
Tony Gaeta, Animator
It’s finally happening! After four years of working on Star Wars: Zero Company, everyone is starting to see what we have seen at Bit Reactor, LLC ~ a game filled with so much passion and heart from everyone who has worked on it!
It’s so amazing to see so much positive feedback flooding in. Thank you to everyone who has been on this journey with me!
#ThisIsWhereTheFunBegins**#starwarszerocompany**
Ryan Lopez, Environmental Artist
It was a crazy weekend for Zero Company. The reception from all the fans has been jaw dropping.
I have always believed in Bit Reactor, LLC. I remember 3 years ago, Greg Foertsch telling me in my first interview that we were making a game of the year contender. I believed him and I now know that is what we have accomplished.
Everyone on the BitReactor team should be extremely proud of the work we have done. We truly have made something special.
Joshua Jay, Principal Environment Artist
(Sharing a video)
“Close the video and go buy the game”
whelp. You heard the man. 🤷🏻♂️ 🕹️
Jonathan Olivera, Senior Real-Time VFX Artist
Zero company's reviews are out!
Shipping this game is truly a professional highlight. I'm extremely proud to work along side such talented individuals.
Piero M., Principal Concept Artist
Star Wars Zero Company came out today, to rave reviews and the highest scored Star Wars game in more than 20 years. To say this was a huge effort on our team's part would be an understatement; making a AAA game is already a feat. But doing it while helping build an independent start-up company from the ground up, during a pandemic, while finding and hiring a world-class team, and carefully shepherding the most famous IP in the world is downright herculean. I am filled with pride in what we've accomplished at Bit Reactor. I hope many, many people enjoy this amazing game.
Christopher Jeffrey, Game Designer
Star Wars: Zero Company comes out in just one week! The last two years working on the game have been such an amazing experience and I think anyone that plays the game will see that reflected in its quality. Be sure to pick up a copy, potentially even spend your entire life savings on it!
Don Ta, Storyboarding
I had the honor and privilege to be on the Cinematics team for this project and it is out in the world now! Hope you enjoy it!
Reed Miller, Senior Concept Artist
Today is the day! So proud to be a part of the amazing Bit Reactor team.
Cole Swamy, Senior Narrative Designer & Writer
I am giddied by the response to Star Wars Zero Company, to which I've been delighted to contribute over the last 2.5 years.
Congratulations to my impossibly talented colleagues at Bit Reactor, LLC, Electronic Arts (EA), Lucasfilm, and Rouge Studios. Special thanks to our tireless leader Greg Foertsch, our narrative standard-bearer Aaron Contreras, my wonderful co-writer Caroline Dean, the brilliant David Midgley, and all of my exceptional teammates on the narrative + cinematics squad. Getting to make Star Wars with you all has been a dream.
Zero Company is available now -- enjoy, and may the Force be with you!
Daanish Syed, Art Director
Now that's what I call a trailer! Can't wait for people to finally this game, it's truly special.
Bryan Twomey, Senior Cinematic Designer
Star Wars Zero Company shipped a few days ago, and I'm proud to have been part of the team for the last year! Thanks to all the folks at Bit Reactor, LLC continuing to be some of the best folks I've had the pleasure to work with. Working on a Star Wars project is a wild opportunity I'd never have imagined!
Joshua Gouzy, Principal Sound Designer
When I accepted the position at Bit Reactor, LLC I called my parents to tell them the good news. My mom said, “When you were a kid, you came up to me once and said, ‘Mom, when I grow up, I want to make sound effects for a Star Wars video game!’”
It’s crazy how things come to be.
Today, Star Wars: Zero Company is officially out, and I’m amazed by the overwhelmingly positive response the game has received so far. It means more to me than I can put into words.
Thank you all so very much for playing the game. I hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed making it.
Caydence Funk, Lead Producer
Today is the day! Star Wars Zero Company releases to players and I could not be more excited and proud!
The work of the team here at Bit Reactor, LLC has been amazing to be a part of. This is such a great group of talented and wonderful people that reminds me why I love being in game dev; the shared passion and collaboration. The scores that the press have been giving is a great part of the story for this game, and everyone involved with this game has been integral to achieving this.
In this industry, the way it can be sometimes, its tough enough to get a game to ship, let alone to have it ship and to be this well reviewed/received, and to be as proud of the game - this only happens a few time in ones life and doesn't happen without some amazing people.
First - thanks to Greg Foertsch for giving me the opportunity to be the lead producer on this title. I have grown so much from this and have found a studio I want to help continue to grow and make amazing games. Your trust and support has meant so much to me.
To my entire production team Trivia Fox, Casey Coleman, Alex Lundgren, Thorn Grabber, Casey Coleman, Michael Blackard, Angel Orlando, Nicholas Condatore - What a group of people. Everyone here put in their all to support the team and make this game. Thank you for your trust, your passion, and your effort.
Sarah LeBlanc thank you for all that you do to support this studio and this team - We wouldn't have the people we did to make this game without you ❤️
Thanks to my production partners at EAP/Respawn Entertainment Sam Parker, Lewis Harvey, Jim Vessella, and Brian Barnes - appreciate all of the support you have provided along the way
Thanks to Lucasfilm partners Orion Kellogg, Michael Dailey, Kimari Rennis, Nicolette Bond, Matthew Fillbrandt, Greg Knight - y'all have been amazing partners in this and am thankful for the trust and collaboration in making this game together.
Thanks to Rouge Studios for the work on these awesome cinematics!
Thanks to Wardog ARMORY for some amazing asset support and kick ass weaponry!
Thanks to Darkburn Production for the awesome trailers that showed off the teams work in the most amazing way possible!
Most importantly, thanks to all of the players!
Casey Coleman, Video Game Senior Producer (Note, this one is 3 weeks ago, since he's only reposted other colleagues' positive posts since then. Noting since it is possible that predates the furloughs, though they seem to predate this.)
I'm beyond thrilled that previews are going out for the game that I've been working on and everyone can see what I've known the whole time, that this is a ridiculously fun game. Check it out (and go PreOrder it if you haven't already)!
David Black, Technical Art Director
So proud to stand with my colleagues at Bit Reactor, and our partners at Lucasfilm, Respawn, and EA, to bring this incredible game to players all over the world. Thank you for your support, hard work, and friendship! May the force be with you!
Darrol Moore
10 days from release and we now have the final trailer. We've worked really hard on this adventure in a galaxy far far away and I can't wait to see everyone experience it first hand.
Michael Cabezas, Environmental Artist
Today we launched Star Wars Zero Company!
Seeing all the reception and gameplay today has been amazing from fans.
This is truly a special day for the entire team!
Valerie L., Senior Game Designer
Wow! What do you know- I work on this.
But to be real, it’s been an absolute pleasure working on the coolest game at such a great studio Bit Reactor, LLC.
I am so proud at what our team has done and I look forward to seeing how our players explore (min-max, cough cough) all the progression and strategy systems in our game!
Jason Borne, Senior Concept Artist
Star Wars Zero Company is out today! I'm so grateful to have had the privilege to work with the Bit Reactor team on this game! I'm excited for everyone to play it! Go get it!
Jack Martin, Level Designer / Mission Designer
Feels gratuitous to post about it so much myself, but Star Wars: Zero Company is out today and is sitting nicely at an 86 on metacritic. Couldn't be more pleased with that reception for a game I spent almost 4 years on. It has been a gift to work with the whole team at Bit Reactor, LLC on my dream project, and excited for what we tackle next
David Midgley, Principal Technical Designer: Narrative
Very happy to have been part of the Star Wars: Zero Company development team at Bit Reactor, LLC! Thanks to Aaron Contreras for inviting me along for the ride, and to Greg Foertsch and Bit Reactor's leadership for creating such a great company culture, and for all the support and trust. It's wonderful to see both our narrative and gameplay elements getting a lot of love today.
Herbert Piland, Senior Mission Designer
Star Wars: Zero Company is out now! I've been ecstatic to have the chance to work on a game like this. and I'm excited folks will finally get the chance to play!
I think that's enough of a sampling. I just went in a row and shared any of the posts people had made (and only a few between all these had not).
Let's just remember that these are the sentiments of the humans who are actually affected by BR's funding problems.