Star Wars Zero Company's Voice Cast Brings Clone Wars Veterans Back to the Galaxy
Respawn Entertainment's upcoming strategy game Star Wars Zero Company has revealed its voice cast, and it's stacked with beloved actors from Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series. If you were hoping to hear familiar voices when the game launches, you're in luck — several fan-favorite performers are returning to the galaxy far, far away.
The announcement confirms that Dee Bradley Baker, who voiced every clone trooper in The Clone Wars and Star Wars: The Bad Batch, will reprise his role. Joining him is Matt Lanter, the voice of Anakin Skywalker throughout the animated series, along with James Arnold Taylor (Obi-Wan Kenobi) and Ashley Eckstein (Ahsoka Tano). The cast also includes Sam Witwer, known for his work as Darth Maul and Starkiller in The Force Unleashed.
This is a deliberate move by Respawn and Lucasfilm Games to anchor Zero Company in the era of the Clone Wars — a period fans have embraced more passionately than almost any other in Star Wars storytelling. The game is set during the conflict between the Galactic Republic and the Separatist Alliance, placing it squarely in the timeline that The Clone Wars series defined across seven seasons.
What Is Star Wars Zero Company?
First announced in early 2024, Star Wars Zero Company is a tactical strategy game developed by Respawn Entertainment, the studio behind Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. Unlike those action-adventure titles, Zero Company shifts to a top-down, squad-based format reminiscent of XCOM or Company of Heroes.
Players command a squad of clone troopers — hence the "Zero Company" designation — through procedurally generated missions across multiple planets. The game emphasizes permadeath, resource management, and tactical positioning. Each clone has a name, personality, and voice lines that change as they survive more missions, building attachment before the inevitable losses.
"We wanted to capture the camaraderie and tragedy of the clone troopers," the game's director said in a press briefing. "These aren't faceless soldiers. They're individuals with bonds, fears, and a limited lifespan."
Why This Cast Matters
The Clone Wars animated series, which ran from 2008 to 2020 across multiple iterations, developed a devoted following partly because of its voice cast. Dee Bradley Baker's ability to give distinct personalities to hundreds of identical clones became a defining feature of the show. Having him reprise that role in Zero Company isn't just nostalgia bait — it's a creative decision that grounds the game's narrative.
Ashley Eckstein's involvement is particularly notable. Ahsoka Tano, the character she voiced, evolved from a divisive addition to one of the most beloved figures in all of Star Wars. Her presence suggests the game may connect to Ahsoka's story in some capacity, though Respawn hasn't confirmed whether she'll appear as a character or simply as a narrative touchstone.
Sam Witwer's return as Darth Maul — assuming that's his role here — would mark another chapter in his long history with the character. Witwer first voiced Maul in The Clone Wars season 4, resurrecting a character who was originally killed off in The Phantom Menace. His performance turned Maul into a tragic, complex antagonist.
How Zero Company Fits Into the Star Wars Gaming Strategy
Respawn's approach to Star Wars has been deliberate. Jedi: Fallen Order and Survivor proved that single-player, narrative-driven games still have a massive audience. Zero Company represents a different bet — that the strategy genre, long underserved in the Star Wars universe, has room for a modern entry.
The last major Star Wars strategy game was Star Wars: Empire at War, released in 2006. That gap is staggering. Zero Company isn't trying to be a grand-scale RTS like Empire at War; it's a smaller, more intimate game about squad survival. But that focus could be its strength. By narrowing the scope to a single company of clones, Respawn can deliver the emotional weight that large-scale strategy games often lack.
The Clone Wars setting also allows for a morally gray narrative. The clones are bred for combat, genetically modified for obedience, and ultimately programmed to execute Order 66 — the command that turns them against their Jedi generals. Zero Company has the opportunity to explore that tragic arc in a way that shooters and action games haven't fully captured.
The Skepticism: Can Strategy Games Still Sell?
Not everyone is convinced Zero Company will find its audience. Strategy games, particularly those with permadeath mechanics, tend to appeal to a smaller, more dedicated player base than action-adventure titles. XCOM 2 sold well but didn't approach the numbers of Jedi: Fallen Order, which moved over 10 million copies.
There's also the question of replayability. Procedurally generated missions can feel repetitive if the underlying systems aren't deep enough. Zero Company will need to offer enough tactical variety and narrative hooks to keep players coming back after their squad inevitably gets wiped out.
And then there's the elephant in the room: live-service expectations. Electronic Arts, which publishes Respawn's games, has pushed for ongoing revenue streams in recent years. Zero Company appears to be a single-player experience, but there's always the possibility that post-launch content — new planets, enemy types, cosmetic items — could shift the game toward a service model.
What Comes Next for Zero Company
Respawn hasn't announced a release date for Star Wars Zero Company, but the cast reveal suggests development is far enough along that voice recording is complete. A 2025 release window seems likely, potentially aligning with the 20th anniversary of Revenge of the Sith — the film that features the climax of the Clone Wars.
The game will launch on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. No Nintendo Switch version has been announced, though given the game's tactical nature, it would suit the platform well.
For now, fans of The Clone Wars have something genuine to look forward to: a game that treats the clone troopers not as cannon fodder, but as characters worth caring about. With this voice cast, Zero Company is already signaling that it understands what made the animated series special. Whether it can translate that emotional resonance into gameplay is the question worth watching.
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