XCOM 2 Announced, Due on PC in November

Have you missed carefully directing an international squad of elite alien killers (named after your friends) to their certain death? Well, good news: 2K has announced that XCOM 2will be released this November. Double good news: It looks like the same team that made 2012's XCOM: Enemy Unknown is going to be making this one.

Unlike the second entry in the 1990s X-COM series (which shifted the combat underwater and replaced the lovable grey Sectoids with fish people and lobstermen), Firaxis' new game is set in a world where the XCOM initiative failed and alien forces assimilated the Earth into their empire. It looks like you'll be commanding a rag-tag group of rebels against the entrenched alien powers, plus the human forces who are working on their side.

Two things make me raise a brow at this announcement. First, I'm always interested any time a game wants to tackle the notions of colonization and assimilation--even alien colonization and assimilation. There's a great shot in the trailer (below) of one human easily strolling by while another goes through a stop-and-frisk. There's definitely potential for something interesting here, and Firaxis has already proven that the "fragmented humanity" angle works with 2013's XCOM: Enemy Within.

Second, the press release only says that the game will be out on PC this November. There's no mention of console or mobile releases. This is worth mentioning because of the lengths Firaxis went through to make XCOM: Enemy Unknown totally playable with a controller. Is this going to be a PC only release (and if so, how might Firaxis take advantage of that?) Or could we see XCOM 2 on the Microsoft or Sony stage in a few weeks, maybe as a (timed?) exclusive? Hmmm.

Oh wait, actually, I thought of a third thing that raises my brow: A dude cuts an alien in half with a sword in this trailer from IGN. Dope.

Console versions of the 2012 Xcom sold kinda poorly, most likely they cannot immediately risk dropping this on the new ones despite everything. Let's hope for the best

Eeeee!

It's like Red Dawn, but with aliens instead of communists.

Finally realized what was missing from the Red Dawn remake.

Really hoping they keep the controller stuff, it worked really well in EU and I prefer controller to KB+M if I can get away with it.

Between the sword and the naga snake-lady, they're really escalating the crazy this time around.

Enemy Unknown was great although I still didn't finish it, I should get back to it. Also, who's Austin?

Good. Gooooooood.

Oh wait, actually, I thought of a third thing that raises my brow: A dude cuts an alien in half with a sword in this trailer from IGN. Dope.

You are going to do well here, Austin.

I hope the game at least touches on the complicated morality of being insurgents fighting against a far more technologically advanced and organized enemy on occupied ground.

I remember the PS3 version had some performance issues, but it was still great. I hope they release a version for the PS4.

@colourful_hippie: New GBEast hire, Patrick's replacement essentially.

(No disrespect or trivialization towards Patrick or Austin intended!)

Yeah. I hope they play with the political occupation angle a bit more than a surface-level setting.

Also I hope there are more swords, in different colours. I hope both of these things.

(Welcome, Austin. I almost fell out of my chair when I heard you were from London; I grew up around St. Thomas. Good luck with the new gig)

Already using styyyyyyyle in a story? Austin, you're going to go places here.

Nice they finally got someone!

Really excited to see your first article @austin_walker! Congrats!

aliens

Great birthday gift, I dumped a shit ton of time into that game last year and wish I played it when it was released.

@colourful_hippie: He's the new hire from Giantbomb East. He's apparently getting a Phd! He seems pretty smart, yet somehow 'likes' wrestling?

Fourth thing: snake wielding an assault rifle that may or may not have a fashion sense.

yeah considering they are going mac and linux there's no way they aren't on someones stage this e3

Most aliens I've met are communists.

Between the mobile base, mod support, new classes, and new technology to research I'm really looking forward to this game. Enemy Unknown was one of my favorite games in the last couple of years so I have high hopes for this one.

Woot on the melee! That's basically my playstyle anyway(with a shotgun though).

Sneak Reveal!

And by that I mean Austin Walker of Giant Bomb News!

EDIT- Looks pretty neato. Interesting to still have country patches on the armor. I wonder if Fireaxis had some info on number of people that finished the game/lost versus won and planned the sequel accordingly. It's probably what I would do in choice heavy series to keep the branching manageable.

I sure as hell hope it's not going to be PC only, since I badly want to play this sequel.

excited for the procedurally generated maps, also mod support, especially after how well the long war mod seems to be doing

Really looking forward to this. Loved the first game.

Hopefully all of this translates to a much simpler game.

I bailed out of the first one because all of the HQ stuff (with R&D, satellites, and global allies) was just beyond my threshold of giving a damn.

As someone who's just now playing the previous game and naming all my dudes after Sonic the Hedgehog characters, this new scenario is VERY exciting.

Though I loved Unknown, I'm a bit wary of this, seeing as Firaxis seems to be churning out games a little too quickly and sloppily as of late. I hope this is a bigger leap compared to Unknown/Within than Beyond Earth was to Civ V, because boy was that ever a disappointment.

Also, congrats on your first GB story, Austin!

Excited for this but slightly disappointed the airbase was not a underwater. Maybe the snake aliens are from the deep!

I'm far less interested now, was really hoping for underwater like original series. I hope they improve the camera/multilevel 3d design viewing/moving mechanics.

Welcome, Austin!

And bring on XCOM 2; the second Xtraterrestrial Combat Unit game!

Awesome! hopefully they'll release a console version later (and hopefully it'll run better than EU and EW did on PS3) also what's up with that weird snake alien?, though I do like the new humanoid looking sectoids.

I was just thinking last week how surprising it was there hadn't been a sequel to Enemy Within!

And @austin_walker, based on your writing style, you're going to be an awesome addition to GB.

"but god damned it's got styyyyyyyyyle."

New kid's down with the GB lingo.

@kentonclay said:

I hope so too, but I'm not convinced Firaxis has any interest in exploring that kind of stuff. Enemy Unknown was awfully thin on plot and themes, and what was there never felt necessary. But, who knows; the premise of this one seems better suited to having a more involved narrative, so maybe they'll take the opportunity to do something more impactful.

First article! And bringing fantastic news too!

I bought the previous game three times: twice on PS3 (EU & EW) and once on iOS for iPad. I'm disappointed I won't get to play this one unless I decide to spend a decent amount on a PC. I'd buy it on PS4 in a heartbeat.

The first Xcom is still on my list of last gen games I need to play.

Fucking yes!

After listening to the Giant Beastcast, I'm pumped that we're going to see more of Austin. Welcome Duder.

Are you telling me Giant Bomb can now post announcement news without snark or puns? Hmm...

Neat.

I'm as equally excited for the theme of the new game as I am for the naga person. I just don't know how I'm going to squeeze this game into my schedule this year. What a great year for video games.

I need another 2 from Firaxis

SimGolf 2