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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.

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Zloth2

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"Go on missions around the world, from wildlands to the heart of the alien-controlled megacities, to the depths of alien installations."

How about the depths of the ocean? I hear there are terrors in the deep.

4 • 
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straightcur

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Sweeeeeeeeet!

This needs to come to PlayStation. XCOM is my favorite game on PS3.

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raiden3788

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YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS! They will just give no Fs about the cliffhanger ending of XCOM: EU? Damn it. At least we're getting a new turn based strategy of Firaxis quality.

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thetravman

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@raiden3788: There was no cliffhanger. It was more like, there was no payoff. The game just...sort of ends.

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Zloth2

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@raiden3788: ??? What cliffhanger??

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leviathanwing

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@Zloth2@raiden3788: i too am wondering about this one...

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Sefrix

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Stoked! :D

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lazybum99

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Please oh please come to consoles at some point. Only one I played was the last one and I freakin loved it. If consoles are totally out of the question I must find a way to play it without blowing my wad on a fancy rig.

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lazybum99

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There definitely needs to be more turned based strategy games on consoles.

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oldtobie

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@lazybum99: Turn based strategy isn't a 'control a guy who fights things' game, so most people aren't interested. If most people aren't interested, it's not worth putting on console.

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lazybum99

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@oldtobie: Yeah, you're right. With seemingly more and more people with ADD and everyone becoming increasingly impatient won't help either. Maybe if someone started a petition or something, but I won't do it cause I'm a lazy bum. I'll sign it though for sure.

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madgame23

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XCOM EU/EW were great games. i actually look forward to the new stuff in this sequel.

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Nightmare350

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oooh, can't wait. this is right up there w/ Fallout 4 and SPAZ 2

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DAOWAce

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The original creative director is back for this sequel no one wanted?

Well, this doesn't bode well for another XCOM game.

Think I might actually go buy Xenonauts..

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straightcur

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@DAOWAce: A lot of people liked Enemy Unknown/Within. This is a sequel that is very much in demand.

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JRLennis

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@DAOWAce: I was a fan of the original XCOM, and I liked the reboot. So did a lot of other people.

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RASquints

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This is a given and if Fallout 4 is announced too, well there goes my social life for a good couple of months

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CatAtomic999

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"...save fallen comrades by carrying them to the extraction point."

That is awesome. This is a really clever set-up for a sequel.

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ArezConce

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@CatAtomic999: excellent idea, though I wish it were only a possibility depending on the type of damage taken by the unit in question , because , at contrary, it would lose a certain degree of tension in the missions.

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CatAtomic999

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OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG

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FBohler

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XCOM is one of the coolest series ever made.

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xgalacticax

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Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes !!!!!!! I Don't care about E3 anymore. This is enough excitement to last me till the game comes out.

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Zloth2

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@xgalacticax: There's just enough time to get through the Long War mod before XCom 2 comes out!

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mrbojangles25

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Woohoo!


Loved XCOM, old and new. I am sure this will be a fun game!


I still need to finish XCOM lol, I love to play it but I always start over or get frustrated with the difficulty.

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Jaquishqua

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While I'm really excited, I'm gonna stay cautiously optimistic. Firaxis' last two games were a bit lacking (Civ: BE and Starships). Hopefully this is being made with the same love and care as the last one!


I also still need to beat Enemy Within before this comes out!!!

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lorider25

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Optimus?

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Jestersmiles

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How about you fix the first so I can actually finish it!!

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Scarab83

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@Jestersmiles: If the game works for 99.99% of people, it's not broken.

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Jestersmiles

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@Scarab83@Jestersmiles: have you even been to the steam forums? I guess not with that comment....

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Scarab83

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@Jestersmiles@Scarab83: Oh no! All 14 people on the Steam forums! That must mean they're the majority!

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Jestersmiles

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@Scarab83@Jestersmiles: yeah because it only 14 LOL, nice counter argument....

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semi74

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Oooooohhhh, I just came.


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Karmazyn

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I do not get this story. I finished the campaign and eliminate UFO threat. I have got loads of funding from all the nations for all the missions I did and now I need to believe that XCOM program is forgotten and was with aliens lost. not convinced !

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Ultramarinus

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@Karmazyn: Reapers came and Starchild told Commander Shepard "whatever you do, we win".

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MAD_AI

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@Karmazyn:

At the end, the Alien leader explains that they were not the main force, or Alien leaders, they were slaves to a much more supreme Alien race.

Theory is after the end of Enemy Within, said master Alien race counter attacked and occupied Earth being stronger than Humanity combined.

2 • 
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Karmazyn

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@MAD_AI@Karmazyn: yeah ... you jogged my memory, there was there bit on the alien ship in the last level where it was explained that aliens were capturing and re-engineering other races to do their bidding. Hmmmm I will reserve my judgments, but it kinda makes completing game pointless if the end result is the same, just saying.

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CatAtomic999

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@Karmazyn@MAD_AI: I remember Jake Solomon tweeting something about your volunteer (the Psi who ultimately saves the day if you win) wasn't really lost. I'd love it if there was some continuity there, and that figure showed up again.

2 • 
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lambel

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*checks list*

2k Blacklisted

No thanks.

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mrbojangles25

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@lambel: lol why you blacklist 2K?


Also, this is 2K Marin (I think, theyre the ones that did the last XCOM). Same company, I know, but different part of it.

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Thanatos2k

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@lambel: Firaxis is one of the good parts of 2k.

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Lembu90

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Better version of last year's Falling Skies?

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Thathanka

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Holy crap - take my money already!

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Royal_Tiger

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The remake from back in 2012 was dumbed down garbage with barebones content, calling it a strategy game is a joke a mentally handicapped 9 year old could beat it on hard mode since the game holds your hand the whole time and has about a 5 minute learning curve. Guess some people like that sort of thing though since they are making another.

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JRLennis

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@royal_tiger: Don't you think you're exaggerating a bit? And a reduced learning curve isn't necessarily a bad thing. I found the strategy elements just fine. The only thing I didn't like were the limited number and types of random encounters, something they are apparently addressing in the sequel.

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lambel

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@JRLennis@royal_tiger: I didn't found any strategy in it, the very essence that made x-com great was lost in that tittle. but perhaps people that never played the original find it great dunno -shrugs- for me was an empty game was expecting more and got a dumbed down experience.

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CatAtomic999

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@royal_tiger: Long War mod. If the sequel does indeed have more accessible modding capabilities, we could see some great stuff.

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asmoddeuss

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@royal_tiger: Iron man + Impossible difficulty

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Royal_Tiger

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@asmoddeuss:

Stacking the odds isn't the same thing as a real challenge that is just letting the PC cheat has nothing to do with strategy. Better idea just replay the original XCom.

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