Civ developer brings XCOM back to its strategy roots

Adding to a franchise revival that also includes a series-departure FPS, renowned strategy game developer Firaxis is developing a new XCOM strategy title for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. The new project, XCOM: Enemy Unknown, has more in common with the original X-COM turn-based strategy games than 2K Marin's controversial XCOM first-person shooter re-imagining that is due to ship in March. X-COM fans criticized that reboot of the 18-year-old franchise since its unveiling in 2010, accusing the BioShock developer of creating an experience that bears little resemblance to the vision of series co-creator Julian Gollop. Firaxis, maker of the acclaimed Sid Meier's Civilization games, will combine a "real-time strategic view" with turn-based combat in its upcoming game, and will allow players to once again take command of "a global anti-alien defense force." XCOM: Enemy Unknown, which takes its subtitle from X-COM's first European release, will be the first strategy entry for the seminal series since 1997's X-COM: Apocalypse. It will release this fall, according to consumer magazine Game Informer. "It's been a dream of ours to recreate X-COM with our unique creative vision," said Firaxis president Steve Martin. "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." "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."