21 Years Later, Star Wars Is Finally Returning To The Prequel Era

Jul 24, 2026 - 01:12

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21 Years Later, Star Wars Is Finally Returning To The Prequel Era

Anakin Skywalker in The World Between Worlds

Published Jul 23, 2026, 5:00 PM EDT

Paul Farrelly is a Contributing Writer for Screen Rant’s Gaming section and the founder of GeekGasm.org, a site dedicated to celebrating all things gaming, from triple A blockbusters to weird and wonderful indie hits. Based in Louth, Ireland, Paul has spent years writing about games, pop culture, and tech, turning his lifelong love of gaming into a career that lets him talk (probably too much) about what makes this industry so endlessly fascinating.
He’s previously written and collaborated with several entertainment outlets, including LADbible, gaining a wide perspective on how gaming fits into today’s pop culture conversation. His work blends genuine enthusiasm with thoughtful analysis, exploring how design, storytelling, and community have made gaming one of the most creative mediums around.
When he’s not glued to a controller or keyboard, Paul’s usually spinning vinyl, plotting his next horror marathon, or debating which Resident Evil entry really reigns supreme.

Look, we've probably seen enough of Kylo Ren and Rey wannabe Skywalker to last a lifetime. Baby Yoda was cute, but he's had his moment in the limelight for far too long. Thanks to Disney, we've also seen a bucket load of content set not long after The Return of the Jedi. It feels timely now that Star Wars Zero Company is going back to a path less traveled. The game is set during the time period of the Star Wars prequels and we couldn't be happier. Hello there!

With Star Wars Zero Company set to launch across PC and consoles on August 27, 2026, it feels apt that we've just learned a shed load of information about the upcoming game. Answering a Q&A on Discord, the team behind Star Wars Zero Company put to bed many people's worries and genuinely have fans feeling excited for what's to come in little over a month's time. Now knowing that the game will be set during the Clone Wars, it has most fans excited about the rise of the Empire era.

A Clone Trooper firing a blaster rifle in Star Wars Zero Company.

Star Wars Zero Company will adopt XCOM-style gameplay where you play as Hawks, the leader of a band of misfits, mercenaries and rogue specialists. Set around the Clone Wars, the game promises to take tried and true turn-based strategy combat and apply a darker, grittier Star Wars edge to proceedings. With Bit Reactor at the helm and support from Respawn Entertainment and Lucasfilm Games, it's certain to be a winner among XCOM and Star Wars fans alike.

The Q&A was extensive but here are the main points covered and confirmed features you can expect in Star Wars Zero Company:

Customization: You can create and customize the look of your team, which can include clone troopers. Clones are a late game unlock but clone armors, cosmetics and voice modulation can be unlocked early in your campaign.
Main Character Hawks: Hawks is mandatory for story missions as he is pivotal to the story. If he dies in battle, it's an automatic game over for your squad. For skirmishes, though, you can build a custom team that doesn't need to include Hawks.
Game Length: The main campaign will be fairly substantial with the game clocking in at around 30–40 hours of gameplay.
Real-Time Rendering: With customization of your team being a big selling point. Most in-game cut scenes will be rendered in real time and show your characters looking exactly how you designed them.
Wide Variety: There will be multiple ways to play to suit your play style. With four main classes available plus sub glasses thanks to cosmetics. There will also be a broad range of weapons and utilities for players to experiment with.

Star Wars Zero Company will see you struggle through the Clone Wars period, but rather than being front and center, your team will operate more in the shadows, pulling off clandestine operations while exploring a brand new and unique dark narrative not yet seen in the Star Wars universe. Having a sci-fi space strategy game to look forward to with a strong focus on story and character feels refreshing. Also, getting to go toe to toe with General Anakin Skywalker before he dons the black helmet might end up being the experience of a lifetime!

Star Wars Zero Company officially launches on PC, PS5 & Xbox Series X/S on August 27, 2026, with pre-orders already open. Something to keep us all busy while we wait for a Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Remake. It also provides a great stop gap while we wait for the next Star Wars movie to appear next year, May 2027. Will Hawks become the next Dash Rendar or go down in history as the next Jar Jar Binks... only time will tell.