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XCOM 2 (PC/Mac/Linux, Firaxis, November 2015) announced [Up: New info/screens in OP]

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A little upset this isn't coming to PS4, mostly because I like the simplicity of Twitch streaming from my PS4 and was looking forward to playing it on console and streaming for my friends.

That being said, I'm still totally okay with a PC version as I can still stream it, just slightly more work involved. Plus if PC only allows for randomly generated levels and mod support, I'm all in. Can't wait for more XCOM!
 
That's certainly unexpected. Couldn't be happier to hear it though! Xcom and its predecessors are some of my childhood favorites, and I'm so glad it has seen a revival. I am surprised at the platform though. (I bought it on 360 and PC.) I like the PC focus though.
 

Vena

Member
Awesome, loved the EU/EW. I hope they bring about a bit more balance to the gameplay, they were close with EW but the meld combinations really made some parts of the game into easy-mode.
 
Reading this quote,

"And, later this week we’ll go in-depth with Solomon and DeAngelis on the reasons behind the bold move to take XCOM from a multiplatform series to a PC exclusive, and how XCOM 2 will be tailored to take advantage of that single platform’s strengths – followed by Firaxis’ exciting plans to support modders and their work."

Gonna go with my gut and say that Xcom 2 will be the big flagship title on Steam for (re)launching/announcing their integrated pay-for-community-mods system.

That is what it sounds like.
 
The XCOM website has been updated and has some other small details:

  • The mobile base is called "The Avenger" and is a converted alien ship.
  • There are five classes now — I'm guessing "Ranger" is the new one. They mention "Momentum" as a new class ability.
  • "The state of the world affects each combat mission's environment."
  • "Use concealment to ambush enemy patrols." (YES.)
  • "Loot enemies for precious gear and artifacts."
  • You can save fallen soldiers by carrying them to the extraction. (YES.)
  • "There are virtually infinite combinations of map, missions and goals." (YESYESYES.)
  • Also confirms head-to-head multiplayer on generated maps.

Hoooooly shit.

So we are basically playing XCOM:Guerrilla War

Can't fucking wait

There are 2 helicopter icons in the action bar. Kind of looks like extraction? Don't know if that makes sense.

Looking forward to using those melee weapons!


If it's basically missions where you do quick assaults and get out of dodge before major reinforcements arrive, calling for extraction is going to be a major mechanic.

This is going to be amazing.
 
Hopefully no console version means they will try what Xcom the bureuax did but with less tactical nature (ie like mass effect you can mostly play by yourself and your allies dont constantly get killed every few seconds)

Think Mass Effect but with this IP and setting

And no one will complain its "dumbed down" since this could be in parallel to the xcom 2 PC version thats pure tactical game.
 

Etnos

Banned
Sweet baby jesus, I'll be getting it!

btw, no console version!? harsh.. On the bright side maybe they'll get the interface right this time around.
 
I did (though only finished Aftermath). Solid games (though I remember at least one of them needing mods, due to some items not working properly, at least in the version I played at the time) with a considerable amount of good ideas (but also some confusing ones, like the rail network in the second; that really stumped some players). From the second onwards they limited the amount of training a single soldier could get, so you couldn't build superhuman universal soldiers like in Aftermath. Reading on the premise of XCOM 2, sounds like it recycled some ideas from Aftershock (losing ending canon, mobile base).


Apocalypse was great, though sadly few people played it. Everyone was concentrated on Quake, Diablo and Warcraft 2 at the time. It was the first X-COM (note dash) game to offer a real-time combat option (which was, ironically, better than the turn-based one). It's also pretty difficult (not so much on the lower levels, but definitely on the higher ones) though nowhere near as insane as TFTD.

And yes, I too found the new one underwhelming. It feels too shallow (particularly w.r.t. combat mechanics and soldier/equipment management), limited (especially replayability-wise) and excessively reliant on scripted events. I'd place it even lower than the Altar Games series on my personal preference scale. Feels more like an updated/polished version of Incubation rather than the successor to the X-COM (note dash) series.

You know your strategy games, I agree with most of what you said. The original X-Com is my favorite game of all time, but I also loved TFTD, Apocalypse, even Interceptor ( I also happen to love space sims). What did you think of Xenonauts?
 

jackal27

Banned
Well, my most hype game of the year right here! Those screenshots look a little rough though. Something about the lighting? I dunno.
 

QFNS

Unconfirmed Member
I'm still a bit miffed at Firaxis for what they did to Civ in Beyond Earth. I did really enjoy XCOM around launch but I never went back for any of the expansion stuff, is it worth doing another playthough if I've beaten the original game thoroughly?
 

Kudo

Member
PC Exclusive is not a problem for me as I'm getting new computer soon, but it really feels like weird decision, can't think of any good reason why they didn't make it for current-gen as the earlier game played perfectly on pad, some would even say it played better with pad than on mouse.
Nevertheless, looking forward to this, had lots of fun with Enemy Unknown.
 
Does the Enemy Within expansion add much to Enemy Unknown? wasn't a big fan of EU but I loved UFO and the info coming out for this makes it sound like it might actually be good.... So i kinda want to give it another try.

PC Exclusive is not a problem for me as I'm getting new computer soon, but it really feels like weird decision, can't think of any good reason why they didn't make it for current-gen as the earlier game played perfectly on pad, some would even say it played better with pad than on mouse.
Nevertheless, looking forward to this, had lots of fun with Enemy Unknown.

Maybe they want to focus their time and resources on giving a good mouse & keyboard experience instead? That would be my guess.
 
While I have all the XCOM fans in one place, does anyone know if there's a way to play the game on a Nexus 9? The Google Play store seems to suggest it's not compatible, but the tablet's hardware should be more than able to handle it.

Does the Enemy Within expansion add much to Enemy Unknown? wasn't a big fan of EU but I loved UFO and the info coming out for this makes it sound like it might actually be good.... So i kinda want to give it another try.
If you didn't like EU, you won't like EW. It adds stuff rather fundamentally changing the game.
 
While I have all the XCOM fans in one place, does anyone know if there's a way to play the game on a Nexus 9? The Google Play store seems to suggest it's not compatible, but the tablet's hardware should be more than able to handle it.
Try sideloading it.

Edit: is it possible to sideload your purchases? I forget.
 
I'm still a bit miffed at Firaxis for what they did to Civ in Beyond Earth. I did really enjoy XCOM around launch but I never went back for any of the expansion stuff, is it worth doing another playthough if I've beaten the original game thoroughly?

Does the Enemy Within expansion add much to Enemy Unknown? wasn't a big fan of EU but I loved UFO and the info coming out for this makes it sound like it might actually be good.... So i kinda want to give it another try.

Maybe they want to focus their time and resources on giving a good mouse & keyboard experience instead? That would be my guess.

I don't think EW changes anything so drastically such that you would go from not liking it to liking it, but it does add a lot more depth to the game. Definitely worth playing in my opinion, but I loved the original too, even if I felt like I had "cracked it" by the end.
 

Nikodemos

Member
You know your strategy games, I agree with most of what you said. The original X-Com is my favorite game of all time, but I also loved TFTD, Apocalypse, even Interceptor ( I also happen to love space sims). What did you think of Xenonauts?
Haven't tried it yet. My backlog stretches throughout one and a half decades (still haven't gotten around to continuing my Soldiers of Anarchy playthrough), so I'm rather loath to keep adding to it (at this point, with so many games on it, I tend to randomly pick what I concentrate on next).
 

Ramenman

Member
Might as well focus on the main platform in that window. If this was an f2p game, no one would really bat an idea at the concept.

well, for all we know, it might be.

With things like mod support, procedural maps, looks like they wanna go the "continued support / service" route, so maybe f2p or an "exotic" business model is what is prompted them to go PC only.

Obviously this would not be the first thing they mention about the game due to the reactionary nature of gamers regarding those thing.
 

Erheller

Member
Everything sounds great. Easy preorder
if Firaxis confirms Van Doorn
.

I'm still a bit miffed at Firaxis for what they did to Civ in Beyond Earth. I did really enjoy XCOM around launch but I never went back for any of the expansion stuff, is it worth doing another playthough if I've beaten the original game thoroughly?

Yes. Gene Mods and MEC's are awesome.
 

Nzyme32

Member
While I have all the XCOM fans in one place, does anyone know if there's a way to play the game on a Nexus 9? The Google Play store seems to suggest it's not compatible, but the tablet's hardware should be more than able to handle it.


If you didn't like EU, you won't like EW. It adds stuff rather fundamentally changing the game.

Not sure if this is even possible, but you might be able to side load it or go via Humble Bundle. For example, Spacechem should not work on my phone, as it demands a tablet sized display, yet Humble's app lets me download the game and play it perfectly (albeit with small text that is a bit hard to read) even though the Humble app tells me it isn't supported - it still lets you go for it anyway
 

Metroidvania

People called Romanes they go the house?
Melee weapons?

Can actually ambush the damn aliens and not have them get a free turn to move to cover?

Saving soldiers via extraction?

I'm in.
 
hit up a Tomb Raider thread and place bets with your friends to see how long ya last
That's Tomb Raider though, there aren't an influx of strategy games on the new consoles which is why I'm disappointed. Oh well I'm sure even if it never comes there's a chance for them to at least remaster enemy within with more content and whatnot
 
well, for all we know, it might be.

With things like mod support, procedural maps, looks like they wanna go the "continued support / service" route, so maybe f2p or an "exotic" business model is what is prompted them to go PC only.

Obviously this would not be the first thing they mention about the game due to the reactionary nature of gamers regarding those thing.

How do procedural maps suggest "continued support / service?" Don't they suggest the exact opposite?
 

Corpekata

Banned
A game touting mod support is not going to be F2P, especially one that has little to no social features, competitive side, or even general online focus.
 
I was so excited about this announcement, watching the trailer, reading all the info, that I failed to notice it was PC only! No! Why? I loved XCOM on PS3 (and I played plenty of it on PC first) and was so excited to play it on PS4. It would have been perfect for this relatively light fall.

Bummer :(((
 

Nzyme32

Member
I would bet it will come to consoles eventually.

Without knowing what the game is going to be like, that is a bit of a leap of faith. This could be said for a whole bunch of turn based strategy games on PC, yet many don't for a whole variety of reasons. Firaxis will explain why this week via IGN / their livestream anyway
 
I'm actually pretty upset. Loved and played the hell out of Enemy Unknown and Enemy Within. I can't see why they wouldn't bring this to consoles, but I guess we'll hear their explanation soon. Still very disappointing.
 

nynt9

Member
We're not on a busy PS3/X360 era, skipping consoles that's still sparse for new games is a huge mistake on their part.

Clearly the only reason for going exclusive isn't money.The game they're making, with a PC interface and extensive modding, doesn't sound like it would be optimal on consoles. Even if they figure out a port later they don't seem to be concerned with figuring those out for a console ecosystem right now.
 
Without knowing what the game is going to be like, that is a bit of a leap of faith. This could be said for a whole bunch of turn based strategy games on PC, yet many don't for a whole variety of reasons
I mean I didn't even think that Divinity or Wasteland 2 would be coming to consoles and here we are.
 
I fucking LOVED the last XCOM game, I always liked the series in concept but never got too deep into any of the older titles.

But yea, unless there is any genuine fear of them messing up, I'm in day 1.
 
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