As we stare down more $80 games, it rules that Star Wars Zero Company is $50

Amid Star Wars Zero Company's gameplay and release date reveal at the 2026 Summer Game Fest, it somehow slipped by me that the squad tactics game from XCOM veterans also got an official price tag: $50. What year is it, 2005? Not only is this what Firaxis charged for XCOM: Enemy Unknown in 2012, it's less than the beloved XCOM 2's launch price of $60 a decade ago.

I got to try Zero Company hands-on earlier this year, and it is one of my top upcoming games: Zero Company pairs the crunchy permadeath squad tactics you'd expect from its pedigree with scandalously lavish production values. Its cutscenes feel more in line with CD Projekt, boasting intricate animations and a large voice cast. <...