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XCOM 2 Revealed, Coming to PC First in November

Check out first details, a new trailer, and gallery.

600 Comments

Publisher 2K has revealed XCOM 2, the sequel to its acclaimed turn-based tactical action game, which is set to ship on PC first in November.

According to 2K the sequel "transports players 20 years into the future, where humanity lost the war against the alien threat that has established a new world order."

"The secret paramilitary organization known as XCOM is largely forgotten, and must strike back to reclaim control of Earth and free mankind from the aliens’ rule."

Check out the trailer below.

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Here's a story overview provided on the official XCOM 2 website:

"Twenty years have passed since world leaders offered an unconditional surrender to alien forces and XCOM, the planet's last line of defence, was left decimated and scattered. Now the aliens rule Earth, building shining cities that promise a brilliant future for humanity on the surface, while concealing a sinister agenda below and eliminating all who dissent from their new order.

"Only those who live at the edges of the world have a margin of freedom. Here, a force gathers once again to stand up for humanity. Always on the run, the remnant XCOM forces must find a way to rise from the ashes, expose the insidious truth behind the occupation, and eliminate the alien threat once and for all."

In the game, the XCOM is now the invading force and must manage dwindling resources while evading the alien threat in a new mobile headquarters.

"Players must use a combination of firepower and stealth-like tactics to help XCOM recruit soldiers and build a resistance network, while attempting to expose the evil alien agenda and save humanity."

2K is touting procedurally-generated levels, which it says "will make each experience unique to the player," along with a "deeper level of modding support." The game will also feature five updated soldier classes, increased soldier customisation, a variety of new alien and enemy types, evolved tactical combat, "and more."

XCOM: Enemy Unknown designer Jake Solomon returns for the sequel as creative director. According to Solomon, the feedback from players has had a big part to play in the development on XCOM 2.

Click image to view in full screen
Click image to view in full screen

"The feedback from the passionate XCOM community played an important role in the development of XCOM 2," he said.

"We're thrilled to implement long-time fan requested features such as procedural levels and modding support, as well as adding more of what makes XCOM great like new aliens, enemies and soldier classes."

Other noteworthy elements of XCOM 2 are the new Advent enemies that "offer a distinct tactical challenge".

Here's a feature list of XCOM 2 features:

  • XCOM On The Run: Take command of the Avenger, an alien supply craft converted to XCOM's mobile headquarters. Guide your strike force around the world, build popular support and expose the aliens' sinister plans.
  • Recruit Resistance Fighters: Five soldier classes, each with its own skill tree including new class abilities like Momentum, let you create specific soldiers for your tactical plan.
  • Tactical Guerrilla Combat: New gameplay systems offer more tactical flexibility in combat. The state of the world affects each combat mission's environment. Use concealment to ambush enemy patrols. Loot enemies for precious gear and artefacts. Rescue VIPs and save fallen comrades by carrying them to the extraction point.
  • A New Breed Of Enemy: A diverse cast of enemies from powerful new alien species to the Advent, enforces of the alien regime, offer a distinct tactical challenge.
  • Research, Develop and Upgrade: Configure and build rooms on the Avenger to give XCOM new capabilities on the battlefield. Use your Scientists and Engineers to research, develop and upgrade weapons and armour to fit your preferred tactics.
  • Each Mission is a Unique Challenge: Go on missions around the world, from wildlands to the heart of the alien-controlled megacities, to the depths of alien installations. There are virtually infinite combinations of maps missions, and goals.
  • Create Custom Mods: Community-focused tools allow you to create your own campaign, tactical gameplay, aliens, classes, strategy game features, and share within the Steam Workshop.
  • Engage in Head-to-Head Multiplayer: Mix-and-match squads of humans and aliens battle head-to-head on randomly-generated maps.

Check out a screenshot gallery of the game above.

Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

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Bond_Villain

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Loved the first game. It was brilliant.


Only (minor) complaint was the really cool armor and weapons came in really late in the campaign, like at the 90% mark and weren't that many missions left I could use them on.

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Bond_Villain

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Hang on, did I just read this is PC exclusive? No chance for the PS4 eh? :)

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Prats93

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If the devs want money they're going to have to port it to consoles in the future.

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SJGSpook

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@prats93: You're a moron. It sold poorly on last gen so why bother bringing it consoles again. I suppose Firaxis havn't made money from CIV 5. Tit.

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diablohitman

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@AlinHR@prats93: Limitations will happen because of money that's what happens. Even multiplatform games people cry consoles but truth of it is the money it takes. Even for justPC you have to cut out and streamline to make it playable and affordable

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lazybum99

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@Bond_Villain: So far yeah, and that really sucks. We can cross our fingers and pray, or hope or whatever you gotta do to make it happen.

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crunchb3rry

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So glad Jake is still in charge. The guy took a game that was fun but so "older than dirt" that nobody today would ever play it, was actually mentored by Sid Meier, and hit a walk-off homerun. I have the highest hopes for this, and know that it'll probably live up to those hopes. Cool that your base is mobile, but I do worry that it means there won't be base invasions again. Which sucks because they were awesome, but kinda doesn't suck because that was frequently a game-ender in the originals when you had a handful of rookies just get wiped the #&^! out.

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gotyourzergs

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@crunchb3rry: I'm sure the aliens will board your giant hover copter at some point and you'll have to fight them off

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GoodGamesGuy

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Really liked these games and still do, hope this makes it's way to the PS4 :) nvm just read it's PC exclusive haha. I'll have to play it at my brothers then. Looks good.

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lazybum99

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Anyone here know when Wasteland 2 is coming out for consoles?

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flashn00b

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How XCOM 2 happened. << LINK REMOVED >>

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Cloud_imperium

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@flashn00b: Now it makes sense.

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deactivated-5abc14ca5e8cc

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Hopefully this also means tech trees that don't all just lead to plasma weapons FTW.

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yoda101280

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What, the aliens won? So all that work I did in Enemy Unknown was for nothing! hmmph

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Prats93

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@cassar31: It will come to consoles because the devs aren't fools and want to make profit. PC only is a risky and volatile option, and rampart piracy doesn't help.

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Cloud_imperium

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@prats93@cassar31: Sssshh no more tears.

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DRAKE08

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Holy crap i buying this just because of Optimus Prime at the end of the trailer also because the first game was amazing for my gaming taste

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DRAKE08

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If this is a pc exclusive so be it. Hopefully is a time exclusive but I am crossing my fingers for a console version.

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evil-tomato

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I'm curious as to why people are getting so concerned about this game not coming to consoles. It says "Coming to PC first." The word FIRST Implying that it will be coming out on something else SECOND. Not exclusively to PC.


Also how does man kind surrendering in the story make your victories in the first game pointless? You still won the game. I Think this is a really cool direction to take the game. I like it when man kind fails, makes thing more interesting.

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Xyphe31

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@evil-tomato: Gamespot is the only one that says that. everywhere else mentions it will be PC exclusive.

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evil-tomato

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@xyphe31@evil-tomato: Yeah, just read about it in an interview. Ah well...

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nefphlegm

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I need several more clones of me... Naruto shadow clone style... where we can all play different genre of video games and then at the end of the night go back to being regular me so i can inherit the entire experience. This is getting out of hand... there are way too many video games and too little time... something needs to be done about this... am I alone in this train of thought?

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Mojira7

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So all the times people failed the original x-com campaign. It was canon :)

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deactivated-63e36b38d9211

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@Mojira7: At least I got it right many times then. :D

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naomha1

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Oh my. I think I just peed myself a little. Hopefully bigger, better and as amazing as the previous entry. Remember, remember the day Xcom releases in November....

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i-rock-socks

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What's the point of winning if you just keep losing in the sequels? Oh well, looks neat

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parabola15

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@i-rock-socks: that is what command and conquer did

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zeusbark

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Anyone else dissapointed that all the hours spent on Xcom:Enemy Unknown/Enemy Within were in vain since world leaders surrendered??? Don't get me wrong, the trailer looks freaking Awesome!!!

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ghostlv

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@zeusbark: The last time I played Xcom, aliens won - so this sequel is spot on :)

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zeusbark

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@ghostlv@zeusbark: Lol

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ArezConce

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@zeusbark: yep, but always in my mind I saw that xcom had no game over , just two different endings.

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zeusbark

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@arezconce@zeusbark: I see what you mean, but if you got the "good ending" then this is a dissapointment ( ;

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T-ESI

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Umm...Could we FINALLY get an XCOM game where humanity GOES ON THE OFFENSIVE already ?!!

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deactivated-614ebc379da15

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@T-ESI: Well there is UFO Afterlight. X-COM players like to look down on it to feel superior without ever playing it. But Afterlight is an unique and brilliant xcom type game. I love X-COM, XCOM, Xenonauts, and I also love Afterlight.

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NetBiosError

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@T-ESI: You haven't actually played much Xcom, have you?

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T-ESI

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@NetBiosError@T-ESI: You mean like the original where you save humanity from an invasion from mars. Terror from the deep where you save humanity from the sea aliens. XCOM EU/EW doing the same thing, Xenonauts..yadayada.

So ..yeah..I guess I have.

Have you??

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ryadings

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@T-ESI@NetBiosError: UFO: Afterlight. You wipe out not one, but three alien races on Mars. Genocide all the way. Which of course will be the story of XCOM 3 because this game seems to have almost the same setting as UFO: Aftershock...

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berserker66666

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They should also get Michael McCann as a composer since his scores were epic in the last game. Also in Deus Ex Human Revolution.

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NetBiosError

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@berserker66666: His music is 80% of what made the Icarus trailer for Human Revolution easily one of the best trailers ever made.

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debryson

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PS4!! I bought the last one 3 times for consoles (2 base game, 1 expansion). If now I will have to miss it. Please, pS4 version!!!

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Xyphe31

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@debryson: PC exclusive m9

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Sgt-Damain

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About damn time! I just hope the Witcher 3 can last me until November...

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T-ESI

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@hrkdmx2622: If you are comparing to PC Gaming in the 90's. Then yes, i agree. Too many watered down ports and compromises both in content, features, and in gameplay. But theres still a few gems and not all the ports and multi-platformers are bad. Can't wait for the next Mass Effect for instance.

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Aeluron1989

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@T-ESI@hrkdmx2622: I don't think Gaming has been that bad.

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Sgt-Damain

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@hrkdmx2622: Yup, dead for the last 20 years...The king is dead, long live the king...

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