{"rewrite":{"id":"r_6de446dbd1537d40bb835d0f","clusterId":"c_4c1bff7657a179548ad9e1e4","slug":"anakin-skywalker-is-playable-in-star-wars-zero-company","model":"deepseek-v4-flash:free","headline":"Anakin Skywalker Is Playable in Star Wars Zero Company","summary":"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.","whyItMatters":"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.","webCardHtml":"\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGame 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\u0026#39;s era includes Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano, Count Dooku, General Grievous, and Darth Maul\u0026#39;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.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGAME 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.\u003c/p\u003e","blueskyPost":"Anakin Skywalker is fully playable in Star Wars Zero Company, and the previews say he can use the Force to knock enemies off high ledges into the abyss. That is the hook.","twitterPost":"Star Wars Zero Company ships August 27 with XCOM-style tactics, permadeath on by default, and a base on the Ring of Kafrene from Rogue One. Three outlets played the early build.","threadsPost":null,"newsletterBlurb":"Electronic Arts' Star Wars Zero Company arrives August 27 with turn-based tactics from former XCOM developers. Preview coverage confirms Anakin Skywalker is a playable unit, permadeath is on by default, and the base sits on the Ring of Kafrene from Rogue One.","attributionJson":"[{\"source\":\"GAME Watch (Impress)\",\"url\":\"https://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/preview/2131279.html\",\"title\":\"Anakin Also Playable! \\\"Star Wars Zero Company\\\" Preview\"},{\"source\":\"4Gamer.net\",\"url\":\"https://www.4gamer.net/games/901/G090156/20260809009/\",\"title\":\"Advance Impressions of \\\"Star Wars Zero Company\\\" Releasing August 27: A Turn-Based Strategy Where You Bond with Companions and Make Countless Choices Arrives Soon\"},{\"source\":\"Game Spark\",\"url\":\"http://www.gamespark.jp/article/2026/08/11/170538.html\",\"title\":\"「死なせたくない」が最善の手を狂わせる！寄せ集め部隊で「スター・ウォーズ」世界を生き抜くSRPG『STAR WARS ゼロ・カンパニー』先行プレイ\"}]","lintFlagsJson":null,"lintHits":0,"costUsd":0,"inputTokens":12988,"outputTokens":1209,"status":"published","repairAttempts":0,"nextRepairAt":null,"factsAttemptedAt":1786460044,"createdAt":"2026-08-11T14:45:21.000Z","publishedAt":"2026-08-11T14:46:44.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-11T14:45:21.000Z"},"cluster":{"id":"c_4c1bff7657a179548ad9e1e4","canonicalTitle":"アナキンもプレイアブルで登場！ 「Star Wars ゼロ・カンパニー」プレビュー","representativeArticleId":"a_5ab7ab5255796c931f5e4c03","sourceCount":3,"writtenSourceCount":3,"writeAttempts":0,"isSolo":false,"entitiesJson":"{\"anime_titles\":[],\"manga_titles\":[],\"work_titles\":[\"Star Wars ゼロ・カンパニー\"],\"studios\":[\"Electronic Arts\"],\"people\":[\"高島おしゃむ\"],\"type\":\"review\",\"domain\":\"games\",\"is_roundup\":false}","contentType":"news","status":"published","firstSeenAt":"2026-08-11T14:00:00.000Z","lastSeenAt":"2026-08-11T14:00:03.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-11T14:46:45.000Z"},"attribution":[{"source":"GAME Watch (Impress)","url":"https://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/preview/2131279.html","title":"アナキンもプレイアブルで登場！ 「Star Wars ゼロ・カンパニー」プレビュー"},{"source":"4Gamer.net","url":"https://www.4gamer.net/games/901/G090156/20260809009/","title":"8月27日発売の「Star Wars ゼロ・カンパニー」先行インプレッション。仲間たちと絆を結び，無数の選択を繰り返すターン制ストラテジーがまもなく登場"},{"source":"Game Spark","url":"http://www.gamespark.jp/article/2026/08/11/170538.html","title":"「死なせたくない」が最善の手を狂わせる！寄せ集め部隊で「スター・ウォーズ」世界を生き抜くSRPG『STAR WARS ゼロ・カンパニー』先行プレイ"}],"entities":{"anime_titles":[],"manga_titles":[],"work_titles":["Star Wars ゼロ・カンパニー"],"studios":["Electronic Arts"],"people":["高島おしゃむ"],"type":"review","domain":"games","is_roundup":false},"keyFacts":["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."]}