XCOM: Enemy Unknown is Firaxis-developed strategy game

XCOM: Enemy Unknown is the cover story for the February issue of Game Informer, and is described as a "full-on strategy game that puts players in command of a global anti-alien defense force." How's that for staying true to your roots?

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The reveal of 2K Marin's first-person XCOM reboot was not entirely well-received. "If they want to make a generic FPS where you fight aliens, why the hell bother using an existing IP that almost single-handedly created a completely different genre?," Shacker Mad Brahmin Disease asked nearly two years ago, when the reimagined game was first unveiled.

While few doubt 2K Marin's ability to make a fine FPS, XCOM fans were disappointed that the franchise was straying so far from its strategy roots. Capitalizing on that sentiment, 2K Games has another XCOM game up its sleeve--a strategy game from Civilization developer Firaxis.

XCOM: Enemy Unknown is the cover story for the February issue of Game Informer. Enemy Unknown is described as a "full-on strategy game that puts players in command of a global anti-alien defense force." How's that for staying true to your roots?

"We're huge fans of the original game and it's a once in a lifetime opportunity to re-envision a game that is as beloved as X-COM," Steve Martin, president of Firaxis Games, told the magazine. "We were careful to keep XCOM: Enemy Unknown true to the elements that made X-COM such a revered game while delivering an entirely new story and gameplay experience for both die-hard X-COM fans and newcomers to the franchise." The game will be available on PC, PS3, and Xbox 360.

Undoubtedly, more details will be trickling out about Enemy Unknown in the coming weeks. Update: 2K expects the game to release in Fall 2012; the other XCOM game is scheduled for fiscal 2013. A fan-made XCOM remake-of-sorts called "Xenonauts" is also in the works.

Andrew Yoon was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

From The Chatty
  • reply
    January 5, 2012 8:30 AM

    Andrew Yoon posted a new article, XCOM: Enemy Unknown is Firaxis-developed strategy game.

    XCOM: Enemy Unknown is the cover story for the February issue of Game Informer, and is described as a "full-on strategy game that puts players in command of a global anti-alien defense force." How's that for staying true to your roots?

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 8:37 AM

      WHAT??

      • reply
        January 5, 2012 8:38 AM

        I mean seriously, this is good news. Unless they turn it into another fps somehow set in victorian England that isn't Thief.

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 8:41 AM

      Great success.

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 8:42 AM

      YYYYYEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSS!

      They couldn't even have possibly picked a better dev for it, either!

      I am excite. d

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 8:43 AM

      [deleted]

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 8:48 AM

      would you look at that.

      • reply
        January 5, 2012 8:50 AM

        are you guys at all involved with this?

        • reply
          January 5, 2012 8:53 AM

          we own Firaxis. i'm actually headed there tomorrow. for no reason, of course.

      • reply
        January 5, 2012 9:04 AM

        Haha, you must've been itching like crazy to announce this and (somewhat!) silence the haters. :)

      • reply
        January 5, 2012 2:37 PM

        OH TAKE 2 YOU LOVED US ALL ALONG BUT YOU JUST COULDN'T SAY IT :~D

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 8:48 AM

      schlick schlick schlick

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 8:49 AM

      will this cure my crippling depression

      • reply
        January 5, 2012 1:08 PM

        all is right in the world again!

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 8:50 AM

      UNNNNNNFFFFFF

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 8:50 AM

      The game will be available on PC, PS3, and Xbox 360.

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 8:51 AM

      Some things can survive multi-platform, others can't.

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 8:51 AM

      Preorder now and get the exclusive Sectoid civilization and scenario pack for Civilization V!!!

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 8:57 AM

      "full-on strategy game" means its not turn based

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 9:03 AM

      Why no hyphen in the name? Is it due to a trademark dispute? Or was it just a marketing decision?

      Problem is, from E3 2010 until now, "XCOM" has been associated with "that 50's Americana alien invasionFPS game that 2K Marin is making". Is this announcement enough to differentiate the Firaxis title?

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 9:05 AM

      Praise the LORD!!

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 9:07 AM

      nice. put that in your roots pipe and smoke it

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 9:09 AM

      Finally after all these years!

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 9:51 AM

      No release date? I would much rather stay ignorant about this until one month before release than have to wait. I've survived the wait for Diablo 3 so far, but this will kill me...
      My blood will be on your hands folks, hope you're happy.

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 9:55 AM

      Trying to figure out where everyone in this thread is when we talk about Xenonauts

      • reply
        January 5, 2012 10:19 AM

        lol mercfox nobody cares about indie games here except for notch. we can't get enough of notch's balls.

        • reply
          January 5, 2012 10:29 AM

          To be fair, Xcom has had a long history of shitty indie remakes.

          • reply
            January 5, 2012 1:11 PM

            yeah hard to get excited after so many disappointments

        • reply
          January 5, 2012 11:14 AM

          Maybe notch needs to make an X-COM remake, that way it might get some press since game critics love to swing off of Notch's ballsack.

      • reply
        January 5, 2012 10:51 AM

        I've just learned about Xenonauts recently and I'm quite excited for it.
        But this is like Torchlight vs Diablo - I loved Torchlight and I'm sure the sequel would be great, but I'm not losing sleep over it. On the other hand, I periodically visit the Diablo 3 site and watch all the trailers and character videos and read all that is there to be read.

        • reply
          January 5, 2012 10:55 AM

          While on the subject what's the consensus here regarding Xenonauts? Anyone tried it?

          • reply
            January 5, 2012 3:58 PM

            Paid for it to support them, but never played it. Looks promising, it has destructable scenery and interesting take on air combat. Perhaps a bit uninspired art direction.

      • reply
        January 5, 2012 10:53 AM

        To be fair, JohnnyRey made a post about Xenonauts and some other indie games and it got a lot of posts. I'm going to buy it anyway (assuming it's good).

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 9:56 AM

      Our rabble-rabble-rabbling worked for once?

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 10:00 AM

      well if it is a real time strategy game, then it still wont be what i want from a X-com game...

      though civ is not real time so i can only hope they stay true to the x-com ways.

      • reply
        January 5, 2012 10:06 AM

        [deleted]

        • reply
          January 5, 2012 10:15 AM

          We'll believe you once we see it in all it's turn based glorious action.

        • reply
          January 5, 2012 10:16 AM

          seriously guys i work on the game i promise i'm not lying

          also it's in the game informer reveal

          • reply
            January 5, 2012 10:21 AM

            Share details on controls and interface asap, deal?

          • reply
            January 5, 2012 10:28 AM

            br0, that sounds awesome!!! BR0!!!

          • reply
            January 5, 2012 11:12 AM

            You don't have much credibility around here, though.

            • reply
              January 5, 2012 11:18 AM

              apparently not with you! (lol(

              but this isn't even an opinion thing. it's the way the game is made.

            • reply
              January 5, 2012 1:01 PM

              Dude :( It's dahanese. Don't be a dick.

          • reply
            January 5, 2012 3:37 PM

            Please don't console it up too much. Pretty plase??? O_O

        • reply
          January 5, 2012 10:51 AM

          I love you. This is the best news I have read in gaming in a long time.

          • reply
            January 5, 2012 11:13 AM

            Ya the JA:Back in action issues from yesterday got me down :\

            1) Can see all enemies on round start + movements
            2) No fog of war
            :\ hopefully the community will mod those in.

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 10:40 AM

      Excellent

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 10:48 AM

      yeah but then they'll put in a hex grid and get rid of unit stacking and everyone will be mad again

      • reply
        January 5, 2012 11:11 AM

        There's no stacking in X-COM and hex grid would be awesome.

        • reply
          January 5, 2012 11:17 AM

          uhh really? hex grids are the worst. Don't make me barf.

          • reply
            January 5, 2012 1:10 PM

            while I do not agree with hex grids being "the worse," I will say that I don't see them working on the battlescape in X-COM, if only because there are indoor and outdoor environments

          • reply
            January 5, 2012 1:20 PM

            I'm curious what your reasons are for disliking hex grids. In the strategy gaming community (board gaming mainly) it's pretty widely accepted that hex grids are better for almost everything with the one exception that it makes it harder to have a square room in a game like D&D, because some hexes will need to be cut off.

        • reply
          January 5, 2012 11:21 AM

          the future is orthogonal

      • reply
        January 5, 2012 12:40 PM

        Just license the Silent Storm engine

        • reply
          January 5, 2012 1:00 PM

          Yeah that engine rocks. The destruction is awesome in those games.

          • reply
            January 5, 2012 1:18 PM

            the tactical part of that game is pretty much perfect

            • reply
              January 5, 2012 2:06 PM

              Have you tried Hammer & Sickle? They really shit it up by adding RPG elements. You have to talk to a lot of civilians and do quests. Also the game is tons harder (which isn't bad) but they give you tons of perks and high shooting skill from the start which sort of eliminates the early progression of your char.

              • reply
                January 5, 2012 2:59 PM

                I have but dont really remember the shit they added

              • reply
                January 5, 2012 3:35 PM

                They had that awesome engine, it's insane how they managed to make all the other games based on it shit. I mean, wtf?

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 11:11 AM

      OS X plz.

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 11:22 AM

      It's too hard for the modern gamer, I really fear for this title.

      • reply
        January 5, 2012 11:57 AM

        Agree. I'd be surprised if they moved 100,000 units across all platforms. They should rename it 'Call of Duty: X-COM Black Ops'. Then it'd sell 5,000,000 copies before people knew they bought a game that required some actual thinking.

        • reply
          January 5, 2012 12:24 PM

          I would be okay with this (wasn't that Halo Wars' strategy?)

      • reply
        January 5, 2012 1:02 PM

        Are you staying that modern gamers will suck at turn based strategy games or the fact that the original X-COM games were very hard by themselves?

        I hope they don't make them TOO easy.

        • reply
          January 5, 2012 1:21 PM

          both

        • reply
          January 5, 2012 2:24 PM

          That's the problem, today's AAA titles need to be a cakewalk.

          • reply
            January 5, 2012 3:34 PM

            Indeed. Devs/publishers feel a game fails if people don't see every square inch of it. Gamers think a game fails if it only takes an hour to master it and 6 hours to complete.

            • reply
              January 5, 2012 6:05 PM

              i don't think that's true - most gamers don't finish games or get anywhere close to finishing.

      • reply
        January 5, 2012 3:38 PM

        It's ok on easy, everyone can do that. I have faith!

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 12:35 PM

      UNFFFFFFFFFFFFFF CALLED IT YESTERDAY hoped it

      • reply
        January 5, 2012 6:01 PM

        I should probably apologize for dissing your guess. :)

        This is excellent news and I look forward to reading more about it. Maybe this will satisfy those who wish for a SMAC sequel as well as the X-Com fans?

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 12:37 PM

      And on that day MANY cups were filled.

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 12:46 PM

      Oh. My. Fucking. God.

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 1:05 PM

      Neat. It will be interesting to see where they take it.
      I'd like to see the gameplay updated and expanded rather than just a remake, but stray not too far from the core gameplay of the original X-COMs.

      • reply
        January 5, 2012 1:24 PM

        what you said is so ambiguous its the perfect example of why there better be mod tools because they cant make everyone happy

        • reply
          January 5, 2012 2:02 PM

          As long as it is fun I'll be happy.
          I've played enough of the original and clones to want something new though. I think there's a lot of room for growth is the globe/strategic aspect of the gameplay. Maybe beef up the building gameplay parts, and the diplomatic parts; and do something interesting with the alien aircraft interception.

          Tactical gameplay wise I think is golden as is. I even enjoyed the real-time version in X-COM apocalypse.

          mod tool would be awesome though.

          • reply
            January 5, 2012 2:10 PM

            Needs base building from Evil Genius or Dungeon Keeper

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 1:08 PM

      Hows that for a slap in the face to the XCOM reboot from 2K. YIKES!

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 1:43 PM

      \m/ man it makes me so happy that I can tell people about this now. I think I'll go play it right now to celebrate

      • reply
        January 5, 2012 1:44 PM

        you are such an ass

        i don't get to play until tomorrow when i visit the devs

        • reply
          January 5, 2012 2:05 PM

          i hate you both

          • reply
            January 5, 2012 3:51 PM

            they did this with Civ 5 too; those monsters.

            • reply
              January 5, 2012 6:10 PM

              you're right - sorry about that :( in all honesty i probably won't have time to play tomorrow because i'm there for other things regarding the game!

        • reply
          January 5, 2012 3:31 PM

          you are both asses for teasing us like this

        • reply
          January 5, 2012 5:15 PM

          remember to crouch

      • reply
        January 5, 2012 4:55 PM

        Fuck you. You rat fuck.

        Take me with you.

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 2:07 PM

      Fantastic news! The FPS reboot looks, well, rather blah as has been commented on in the past. This makes me, a big X-COM fan, very happy.

      Since we're begging the higher powers (dahanese), I'd like to ask for three minor things.. One: Can the hyphen return? Two: Could we keep the US name (UFO Defense) rather than the EU name (Enemy Unknown)? And three: Can we get an update to the classic UFO Defense opening theme?

      I'm buying it. Collector's Edition. Just take my money.

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 2:22 PM

      [deleted]

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 2:38 PM

      I've never played XCOM. How do I rectify this?

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 2:39 PM

      The game will be available on PC, PS3, and Xbox 360.

      Oh.

      • reply
        January 5, 2012 3:37 PM

        Yeah, that's a real concern.

        I don't care about the hate I'm about to recieve, but those people don't play these games. I hope this is good though.

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 2:41 PM

      This is Ace news, more xcom!!! MORRRR

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 2:41 PM

      I came

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 2:50 PM

      [deleted]

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 3:21 PM

      what is this madness? a game we all want by the perfect developer? insanity!

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 3:23 PM

      Awesome

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 3:29 PM

      SQUEAKY WHEEL GETS THE GREASE.

      PS
      2K, you can cancel the XCOM reboot now, this re-make will do nicely.

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 3:35 PM

      Set in the 60s?

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 4:00 PM

      Holy mother of god. I never thought I'd see the day. Is it too much to hope that this game might create another generation of turn based strategy lovers?

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 4:05 PM

      omg omg omg omg omg omg omg

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 4:55 PM

      and later when this game becomes a sales disappointment, Christoph Hartmann will make a public statement "I told you sooooooooooo".

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 5:01 PM

      Cool. I like the idea of the old XCOM games...but man, they don't hold up well. Particularly in the UI department. Looking forward to this.

      I also wondered why you would make a game that uses the name of an older franchise, but essentially none of the lore or gameplay from that franchise.

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 5:03 PM

      HOLY FUCK ok i must have teleported to a bizarro parallel universe. what the fuck is going on? is the speed of light constant in this universe?

      • reply
        January 5, 2012 5:06 PM

        jesus its coming out BEFORE the FPS? and its on both consoles? my god i feel sorry for whoever is going to get fired for greenlighting this. oh well but from a gamers perspective this is MEGA AWESOME I CANT WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 5:08 PM

      I'm cautiously optimistic.

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 5:43 PM

      [deleted]

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 6:03 PM

      Still mind-blown. I didn't think this announcement would live up to the hype, but I still couldn't resist speculating optimistically a little bit just to myself and this exceeds all of my optimistic speculation.

      Even the dream of a new Lionhead developed Dungeon Keeper.

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 6:56 PM

      [deleted]

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 7:01 PM

      Sid Meier's company, making a true XCOM game. Mind=Blown. Why didn't they think of this sooner!??!

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 7:04 PM

      HELL YEAH

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 7:42 PM

      -old man rant-
      Where did you young whipper snappers learn grammar?
      "2K expects the game to release in Fall 2012"
      should be:
      "2K expects the game to BE RELEASED in Fall 2012"
      -/old man rant-

      • reply
        January 5, 2012 7:47 PM

        Unless of course you mean:
        2K expects the game to release A FART in Fall 2012
        or
        2K expects the game to release THE INJURED OWL BACK INTO THE WILD in Fall 2012
        or
        2K expects the game to release ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS in Fall 2012
        or
        2K expects the game to release ITS BARBARA STREISAND COVER ALBUM in Fall 2012
        or
        2K expects the game to release A CAPTURE THE FLAG MOD FOR id's ORIGINAL WOLFENSTEIN 3D in Fall 2012

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 8:02 PM

      Woaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!!! Best day of life, awesome fucking news!!!! Thanks 2K and Firaxis!!!! YAYYYYY!!! I just read this at work and am clapping for joy and squealing with delight outloud. My co-workers think I have tourettes now.

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 9:18 PM

      This is like the best gaming news I've heard in YEARS. Hooray!

      Thank you, also, to Dahanese for calming our fears about the turn-based aspect of the game.

      Dahanese, do you feel confident that the PC version will feel properly PC-ish enough??

      • reply
        January 6, 2012 7:48 AM

        Yes, I do. Firaxis knows their stuff. But don't take my word for it. Read what the others have to say as they see and play it.

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 9:25 PM

      Civ 5.

    • reply
      January 5, 2012 9:50 PM

      I just bought the original XCOM from the steam sale. I have no idea what I'm doing. Is there a tutorial somewhere?

      • reply
        January 5, 2012 10:00 PM

        You're in for a wild ride.

      • reply
        January 5, 2012 10:16 PM

        the dudes on your ship are all going to die horribly. just so you know.

        • reply
          January 6, 2012 2:27 AM

          It's like Dwarf Fortress, but with badass dudes with guns instead of dwarves and aliens instead of everything.

      • reply
        January 5, 2012 10:50 PM

        X-Com has the best balance between dudes that are irreplacable and dudes that are expendable.

      • reply
        January 5, 2012 10:53 PM

        hahaha seriously. I got completely wiped out the first time I found a ufo on the ground. No idea what the fuck I was doing.

      • reply
        January 6, 2012 1:34 AM

        I so envy you. To play original X-Com for the first time again!

      • reply
        January 6, 2012 9:46 AM

        This may sound like a really stupid bit of advice, Ninjase BUT be sure to name your soldiers. I found that it really added a flavor and sense of import to activities that happened to each of them during the game. :)

    • reply
      January 6, 2012 1:43 AM

      This is so fucking great! I can't believe it, turned based and Firaxis. I'm a bit worried it will also be released on consoles though.
      It sucks for Xenonauts. I hope they will be able to release their game before XCOM:EU.

    • reply
      January 6, 2012 10:44 AM

      "The game will be available on PC, PS3, and Xbox 360."

      /skeptical

      If it isn't a squad based game...GTFO.

    • reply
      January 6, 2012 11:05 AM

      Man, i'm so happy to hear this. As a huge fan of the original X-COM, I was extremely disappointed when they announced they were going to make it into an FPS. Now i'm super excited!

    • reply
      January 11, 2012 8:44 AM

      I wonder if they can bring back the jump-scares of the original. It was freaky walking around, not knowing when a little alien would pop into sight. I remember the original really creeping me out - there was something about it.

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