According to legal documents uncovered by Game File, Bit Reactor's recently released turn-based tactical game, Star Wars: Squad Zero, was not originally conceived as a Star Wars title, but rather as a project set in the Titanfall universe.
The game's director, Greg Foertsch, and studio co-founder Alison Kelley had previously prepared a pitch for a tactical idol game, which led to a meeting with Respawn Entertainment co-founder Vince Zampella. At the time, Zampella asked Foertsch to come up with a concept based on Respawn's IP, steering the project toward the Titanfall universe.
Game File further points out that the proposal was directly linked to Apex Legends™, which shares the same universe as Titanfall. However, it remains unclear whether the original concept would have included the series' signature mech elements or focused more on the Legends from Apex Legends™.
However, this Titanfall universe proposal was ultimately rejected by Zampella. He instead suggested that the team re-pitch using the Star Wars franchise as the theme. Respawn has extensive experience with the Star Wars IP, having developed the Star Wars Jedi series and participated in a canceled Star Wars-themed first-person shooter project. The final result delivered by Bit Reactor is today's Star Wars: Squad Zero.
Additionally, previous reports from Game File revealed that Bit Reactor had placed approximately 80% of its employees on temporary unpaid leave just weeks before the release of Star Wars: Squad Zero.