Publisher 2K and developer Firaxis Games have announced a treat for fans of the 2012 smash hit "XCOM: Enemy Unknown" – a sequel will be released for the PC this coming November.
In an exclusive with game site IGN, Firaxis' creative director Jake Solomon laid out the general details about the upcoming title. First of all, it seems that "XCOM 2" is not a direct sequel to the original title. In the first "XCOM" game, the aliens tried to overrun Earth, but were vanquished and sent home. For the upcoming title, however, the developer tries to re-do the past, and focuses on a sequel where Earth was overrun.
Solomon said, "When the aliens showed up, XCOM suffered massive casualties, and governments around the world crumbled in face of popular support to surrender. Then, the Earth was quickly overrun."
In addition, the sequel is set two decades after the re-written history of the past.
Solomon added, "And so, 20 years into the future, the world is a very different place. The aliens rule Earth from giant shining megacities where all the people of Earth are flocking; that's where they're promised an easy life, a secure life free of disease."
In terms of gameplay, Firaxis hasn't said much about how the title will progress, but it is speculated that the upcoming "XCOM 2" will also use class-based characters from the first "Enemy Unknown" game, but with minor differences. For example, the main character in the second installment will head a group of resistance fighters without access to advanced weaponry, unlike in the original title. In addition, certain elements for the character classes will also have subtle differences – the Sharpshooter will function much like how the Sniper did, but can use pistols as primary weapons; and the Ranger class will function as Assault soldiers with a deadly blade for close-quarters combat.
