It’s been a while since we heard anything about that mysterious Star Wars strategy title in development over at Bit Reactor. You know, the one announced back in 2022 alongside a slew of other projects from Electronic Arts and Lucasfilm Games? Well, thanks to a fresh batch of leaked screenshots, we finally have our first glimpse — and let’s just say, if you’re a fan of XCOM, you might want to sit down for this one.
Via Kotaku, the screenshots, which first surfaced from an artist's online portfolio and were reported by MP1st, come from a 2023 build of the game, currently known internally as Star Wars: Bruno. While the final product has likely evolved since then, what we’re seeing suggests that this is shaping up to be a proper XCOM-style turn-based tactics experience set in a galaxy far, far away.
In the images, we see familiar Star Wars characters like Bo-Katan crouching behind cover, aiming down sights at an enemy — complete with a percentage-based hit chance floating over the target’s head. In another shot, two characters are shown entering "Overwatch" mode, a direct nod to one of XCOM’s most iconic mechanics, where your squad reacts to enemy movements during their turn. These tactical beats are instantly recognizable, and the UI layout alone screams Firaxis influence.
And that tracks. Bit Reactor is no ordinary dev team. It was founded by former Firaxis devs, including folks who worked directly on XCOM and XCOM 2, and they’ve stacked their team with veteran strategy minds. So the fact that Project Bruno is channeling that energy into a Star Wars setting isn’t just unsurprising — it’s exactly what fans of both franchises have been dreaming of.
Let’s be honest: most Star Wars games in recent years have stuck to the same formula — third-person action, blasters and sabers, maybe a bit of wall-running. While that’s great, variety has been sorely missing. Bruno looks like the shake-up the franchise desperately needs: something slower, more thoughtful, but still loaded with tension and high-stakes decision-making. And what better backdrop for a tactics-heavy war game than the ever-chaotic Star Wars universe?
Sure, this is an early build. And yes, things can and do change in game development. But let’s not pretend we’re not hyped. A Star Wars game with XCOM DNA? Sign me up. Or better yet — send me in, two moves per turn, with a 76% chance to hit.