Zero Company's Order 66: When You're Forced to Pull the Trigger
Bit Reactor's Star Wars Zero Company delivers a shocking, innovative take on Order 66, forcing players to control a clone trooper as he betrays his allies. Creative Director Greg Foertsch and cast members Dee Bradley Baker, Jonathan Freeman, and Vic Michaelis discuss crafting this pivotal moment, its impact, and its broader relevance to the Star Wars saga.
Zero Company's Order 66: When You're Forced to Pull the Trigger
Star Wars is a saga brimming with unforgettable moments, from the tragic downfall of Jedi masters to the exhilarating destruction of superweapons. Among the most iconic – and gut-wrenching – is Emperor Palpatine's chilling command to "execute Order 66," which unleashed the Great Jedi Purge across the galaxy. We've seen this pivotal betrayal unfold in movies, shows, and games, but Bit Reactor's acclaimed strategy title, Star Wars Zero Company, takes an incredibly bold, innovative, and downright brutal approach that's got everyone talking. Polygon recently sat down with some of the game's cast – Jonathan Freeman (male Hawks), Dee Bradley Baker (Trick), and Vic Michaelis (Runa) – along with Creative Director Greg Foertsch, to dive deep into that monumental Order 66 sequence.
When The Player Becomes The Betrayer
Just when your ragtag crew is gearing up for their final mission, the galaxy shifts. Palpatine issues Order 66, and in a move that blindsides many, clone trooper Trick turns on his allies, including the Jedi Padawan Tel-Rea. Adding to the betrayal, Republic intelligence officer Bennic also attempts to arrest Zero Company. What sets Zero Company apart is that players aren't just observing this pivotal moment; you're forced to control Trick and actively carry out the attack on your own squadmates. It's a shocking moment that Dee Bradley Baker, the legendary voice of the clones, aptly describes as "the heartbreak of the clones." This surprising and innovative design choice truly elevates Star Wars Zero Company and is already generating buzz for end-of-year awards discussions. It's an excellent game, pushing boundaries in storytelling.
Building Bonds, Only to Break Them
Crafting such a devastating betrayal required careful groundwork. Bit Reactor wanted to "straddle" Order 66 with the game's timeline, which spans The Clone Wars into the early Empire. A key challenge, according to Greg Foertsch, was ensuring players genuinely cared for Trick before his forced turn. Trick, a core companion from the outset and one of your strongest units, likely becomes an integral part of your squad. The developers intentionally wove a deep connection between Trick and the main character, Hawks, into the game's canon, extending beyond the player's current experience. "By tying Trick to Hawks prior to the game, that [ensures] they have a connection that extends beyond the current version of Zero Company that the player is experiencing," Foertsch elaborated. This pre-established bond makes the player's forced action against Trick, and potentially the Padawan Tel-Rea if she's still alive, all the more agonizing.
Order 66 Through New Eyes
One of Bit Reactor's shared goals was to show Order 66 from a fresh perspective, diverging from the typical Jedi or clone viewpoint. "We wanted to show that event from a different lens, and a very different perspective than fans had ever seen before," Foertsch stated. Jonathan Freeman, who voices Hawks, appreciated how Zero Company depicted this epic event through the eyes of "random, regular people" reacting to Palpatine's sudden holographic appearance. This scene, undoubtedly playing out across countless systems, adds a grounding, human element to a galaxy-shattering event. Vic Michaelis, Runa's voice actor, experienced Order 66 alongside their character, Runa, who was at the holotable rather than the hangar where the main action unfolded. "I was learning about [Order 66] in real time with a lot of people," Michaelis shared.
Voices of the Purge: Cast Reflections
Freeman highlighted the "vital" relationships in the game's script, particularly between Hawks and Bennic. Their bond is tested by Order 66, as Hawks chooses Zero Company while Bennic aligns with the newly formed Empire. Freeman praised Bit Reactor for creating a narrative where "the relationships to stand out and to have such consequence and heart, is pretty impressive." For Michaelis, though relatively new to the Star Wars universe, working on Zero Company felt "very surreal." Hearing the Star Wars music kick in during development, Michaelis felt the gravity of it: "Oh my God, we are in Star Wars. We're in Star Wars right now." For Dee Bradley Baker, however, Order 66 is familiar territory. Having voiced countless clones for nearly two decades, he's experienced the clones' betrayal many times over, quipping that fans probably remember the exact count better than he does.
More Than Just a Moment: Star Wars' Enduring Relevance
Beyond its personal impact, Order 66 carries significant thematic weight. Dee Bradley Baker believes it might be "the most important moment in Star Wars," powerfully illustrating "how democracy falls and how diabolical authoritarian [rule] can be." He stressed its continued relevance in today's world. Freeman felt that Zero Company's Order 66 moment captured the game "in a nutshell," focusing the vast Star Wars narrative on a "very specific important moment" happening in real-time to peripheral characters. It’s a testament to the game’s ability to find deeply personal stories within galactic conflict.
Zero Company's Place in the Star Wars Saga
Star Wars Zero Company is more than just another game set in a familiar universe; it's a profound exploration of betrayal, loyalty, and the human cost of galactic conflict. By placing players directly in the role of the betrayer, and showing the cataclysmic Order 66 through the eyes of ordinary citizens and conflicted companions, Bit Reactor has crafted a narrative experience that is both shocking and deeply resonant. It's an essential play for any Star Wars enthusiast looking for innovative storytelling.
Star Wars Zero Company is out now on PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X.
FAQ
Q: What kind of game is Star Wars Zero Company?
A: Star Wars Zero Company is a beloved strategy game developed by Bit Reactor.
Q: What makes Zero Company's Order 66 moment unique?
A: Unlike other depictions, players are forced to control clone trooper Trick in actually carrying out Order 66, attacking their own squadmates and the Jedi Padawan Tel-Rea, creating a deeply personal and impactful betrayal.
Q: What platforms is Star Wars Zero Company available on?
A: Star Wars Zero Company is currently available on PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X.
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