Star Wars Zero Company might be built upon the classic foundations of the XCOM-like turn-based tactics genre for its key gameplay hooks, but the way that it expands on the late Clone Wars era and expands it with new characters and foes was part of what made it so compelling and adventure to go on.
We don’t know if Bit Reactor will have the opportunity to follow up on their debut title – sadly the bulk of the studio was furloughed shortly after release – but we can hope and dream about the possibilities if they do.
SPOILER ALERT: THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR STAR WARS: ZERO COMPANY, INCLUDING MAJOR STORY BEATS AND THE ENDING. IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE ANY SPOILERS AHEAD OF PLAYING THE GAME TURN BACK.
So, The Republic has fallen, The Empire is rising, Fathom is dead and the Infinite Coil with her. This is the galaxy Zero Company finds itself in at the end of their quest, but nothing is certain for the group’s future. They are wanted by the Imperials as outlaws, different members of Zero Company have unresolved tasks they want to complete, and there is the matter of trying to earn credits to keep everyone paid. There is plenty of scope for a Zero Company sequel, and the following are just some musings of my own on what could be done.
Zero Company & The Rebellion (AKA The Obvious Choice)
At the end of Zero Company, Hawks jokingly remarks they are do-gooders now. The Rebellion hasn’t yet really started at the end of Zero Company, but if they were to skip ahead by a decade or so, a sequel could see Hawks and his crew become a contractor for the Rebellion forces, doing its bit to undermine the Empire while making credits. Jumping beyond the nascent Rebellion of the Andor series also opens up the possibility of crossing paths with big characters like Luke & Leia, but such a jump would age the crew considerably and may even see some characters no longer around. Neesh and Kabb are pretty old already, and I’m sure many would want to see them in the sequel.
Following this path would also feel a bit safe and possibly boring, despite the crew. What makes Zero Company a good story is that it shows a small part of a wider conflict, transitioning from the Clone Wars to the rising Empire and how it impacts people detached from the centre of power. Bringing Zero Company into the age of the height of the Rebellion, while an obvious idea, is one that has more pitfalls than prospects.
Zero Company: Unfinished Business
Perhaps the better idea is to have a sequel take place not too long after the ending of Zero Company, dealing with the fallout of Fathom’s fall and the Empire’s expansion, sowing the seeds for the events that come later.
The first avenue to explore is Luco and his fight for Umbara. The game could be set during a time where Luco has left Zero Company to lead an insurgency against the Empire on Umbara. This could be a focal point as the rest of Zero Company use their contacts and resources to travel the galaxy, gaining allies and supplies to help the Umbarans take back their planet. It is a high stakes job but keeps a focal point for the story too, allowing for some creative freedom for a new front in the war. This would also put Zero Company in direct conflict with the Empire and any groups that have business riding on the outcome of the Umbaran conflict. There is also scope for tension within Zero Company over decisions being made with bonds impacted. While many in Zero Company would be sympathetic to the cause, there can be conflict within the group as Zero Company’s own resources dwindle and lucrative opportunities are lost due to backing Luco.
The second option is Tel-Rea’s mission to find other surviving Jedi. After the events of Order 66, Tel-Rea finds herself as a lone Jedi not sure of who is still out there. In this scenario, Zero Company could chase leads around the galaxy as news of rumoured Jedi still living spread. It also paves the way for crossing paths with Cal Kestis, who is also active in Respawn’s Star Wars Jedi games at the same time as the events of Zero Company.
There is already a link in place that ties both Tel and Cal together, aside from being Jedi. That link is Trilla Suduri, aka the Second Sister. In Zero Company, there is a side mission where Zero Company have to survive against her after being lured into a trap. Trilla is also the prime antagonist of Jedi Fallen Order. Tel Rea’s path could cross again with Trilla’s in another fight, and it may be from here that she learns of Cal’s existence putting her on a path to seek him out, or learning of other survivors like him. At the end of Zero Company, Tel mentions she has a list of potential Jedi survivors and even if Cal is not her focus there is plenty of scope for Zero Company to carry out the search while taking on other jobs.
Another option is facing off against elements of the underworld. During the story of Zero Company, it is discovered that Gorga The Hutt had sold out Zero Company to Fathom and the Infinite Coil, leading them into a trap. No doubt, Gorga will be using the chaos sowed by the events of the wider war to further his own ambitions, and he would likely be aware of Zero Company still being active. While there is no mention of going after Gorga by Zero Company, it could play out in two ways. First, Runa may insist on doing so considering Gorga betrayed her trust especially as he kept offering her a job with him early in the game. The alternative is that Gorga hires groups to go after Zero Company or sabotage their jobs, drawing in other elements of the criminal underworld including the Pykes, Crimson Dawn and other syndicates. It puts in a narrative challenge of Zero Company trying to balance doing good while balancing working with and against the underworld.
Zero Company, but not
This is a completely out there idea, but what if the next Zero Company was not a Zero Company game at all? While the era the game is set in is ripe for more exploration of the darker side of the galaxy and its most popular period of strife, there’s no reason why the gameplay couldn’t be the foundation to explore another era. For example, the next game could go back to the High Republic era and the fallout of the Great Hyperspace Disaster and the Emergences.
Instead of Zero Company, you could have a small group of Jedi and their allies as they try to deal with the different disasters of the Emergences that are destroying civilisations. There is plenty of scope for the development team to come up with unique Emergences, introducing new systems and planets that are under threat. Within these disasters will be groups trying to take advantage to make money and gain influence, such as the Nihil, directly going against the Jedi and the Jedi Order’s own expansion. On the flip side, you could be a group much like Zero Company, made up of characters with different political beliefs, from those who support the Jedi and their aim to expand, while others are against Jedi expanding and exerting their influence.
If there is going to be another Zero Company game there are plenty of options for Bit Reactor to explore. The studio has proven it can put together a really good set of characters and a compelling story within the Star Wars universe, and I hope they will be able to come up with more stories for this franchise in future.
