Firaxis Games
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Star Wars: Zero Company Hands-on Preview - XClones
Star Wars: Zero Company, developed by Bit Reactor, a studio featuring many Firaxis veterans, offers a compelling turn-based tactical combat experience. The preview highlights changes to the action economy, a variety of customization options, and the advantage system, which combine to create engaging moment-to-moment gameplay reminiscent of XCOM and Marvel's Midnight Suns. While performance and some progression systems raise minor concerns, the game shows strong potential for fans of the genre.
Star Wars Zero Company hands-on preview – XCOM fights the Clone Wars
Star Wars: Zero Company is a new turn-based strategy game developed by Bit Reactor and Respawn Entertainment, featuring gameplay reminiscent of XCOM and Marvel's Midnight Suns. Set during the Clone Wars, players command a mercenary group undertaking missions for the Republic. The game will be released on August 27, 2026, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Star Wars Zero Company brings XCOM-style strategy to a galaxy far, far away
Star Wars Zero Company, developed by Bit Reactor, brings XCOM-style turn-based tactics to the Star Wars universe. Players lead a customizable mercenary group, facing permadeath and building bonds between characters. The game is set to release on August 27 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, though some performance concerns were noted in the preview build.
Star Wars Zero Company is a very safe XCOM descendant, but its most interesting parts are found in its Midnight Suns DNA
Star Wars Zero Company offers a familiar turn-based tactical experience reminiscent of XCOM, developed by veterans from Firaxis Games. While it successfully captures the core XCOM gameplay loop, including permadeath and strategic combat, its most innovative elements draw inspiration from Marvel's Midnight Suns, such as enhanced squad camaraderie and pre-battle interactions. Despite its strengths in squad management and build variety, the game's reliance on established mechanics and somewhat repetitive combat arenas temper expectations for it to significantly advance the genre.
Star Wars Zero Company: A New Hope for Turn-Based Tactics
Star Wars Zero Company, a turn-based tactics game with RPG storytelling from new studio Bit Reactor, is set to launch on Xbox Series X|S on August 27, 2026. The game features a squad of mercenaries led by Hawks during the Clone Wars, with deep customization options for characters and emergent relationships. Combat involves strategic use of action points and a shared 'Advantage' resource, with permadeath adding stakes to missions.
Saturday Postmortems/Retrospectives
This article features retrospectives on the Civilization franchise's 35th anniversary, including insights from Sid Meier and Firaxis Games regarding the future of XCOM. It also delves into Tencent's unsuccessful attempt to compete with Grand Theft Auto.
Civilization 7's latest update adds more depth to peace deal brokerage and leader relations, as Firaxis gear up for "bigger additions"
Firaxis Games has released update 1.4.2 for Civilization 7, focusing on enhancing peace deal negotiations and leader relationship mechanics. The update introduces new options for trading resources during peace talks and improves visibility of diplomatic impacts. Additionally, the Brush and Blade DLC Part 2, featuring Yi Sun-sin as a new leader, is now available.
Star Wars Zero Company reveals cast, including fan favorite actors from Clone Wars animated series
Star Wars Zero Company, a squad tactics game from ex-Firaxis XCOM developers, has revealed its main cast, including Dee Bradley Baker as Trick and Matt Lanter as Anakin Skywalker. The game will also feature voice actors Vic Michaelis, Alex McKenna, Judy Alice Lee, and D.C. Douglas. Star Wars Zero Company is set to release on August 27 for PC at a price of $50.
Acclaimed 2022 Marvel PS5 Game 85% Off on PlayStation Store With DLC
The acclaimed 2022 Marvel tactical RPG, Marvel's Midnight Suns, is available at a significant discount on the PlayStation Store until July 30, 2026. The Enhanced Edition for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 includes the base game and five premium skins, while the Legendary Edition offers all released add-ons.
Star Wars Zero Company won't have official mod support, confirms Bit Reactor, but it has 'a lot of respect for…
Bit Reactor, the developer of Star Wars Zero Company, has confirmed that the game will not feature official mod support at launch. Lead producer Caydence Funk stated that while the studio respects the modding community, official tools are not planned. This decision comes despite significant fan requests and the success of modding in similar titles like XCOM 2.
Get 15 games for $15 in Humble's 2K Megahits bundle, including Bioshock Infinite, Risk of Rain 2, and one of my…
Humble has partnered with 2K for a 'Megahits' bundle offering 15 games for $15 on Steam. The bundle includes titles like BioShock Infinite, Risk of Rain 2, Borderlands 3, Mafia 2, XCOM: Enemy Unknown, and Bulletstorm: Full Clip Edition, among others. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Covenant House.
Ever since Black Flag Resynced's reveal 3 months ago, I've daydreamed about setting sail and these 6 games are letting me live out my best pirate life
This article highlights six pirate-themed games available now, with Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced serving as a major inspiration. The list includes classics like The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition and Sid Meier's Pirates!, alongside modern titles such as Sea of Thieves, Windrose, and Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, catering to various platforms and playstyles.
Civilization 7 devs talk 20th century leaders, controversial historical figures, and dealing with colonialism in 4X strategy games
Firaxis is discussing design choices for Civilization 7, including the inclusion of 20th-century leaders and controversial historical figures. The developers are also addressing how to represent colonialism in the 4X strategy genre, acknowledging the challenges of moving away from traditional expansion and profit-driven mechanics.
Civ 7 adds new maps, hotseat multiplayer, and more impactful governments - plus another pricey DLC bundle
Civilization 7 has received a new update (1.4.1) that introduces new maps, a revamped Happiness system, and hotseat multiplayer. Alongside this, the 'Brush and Blade Collection' DLC has launched, adding Japanese and Korean factions and leaders, though its $29.99 price point has drawn criticism from players.
Civilization 7 finally gets hotseat local multiplayer via a new update out today, which also makes cities moodier and overhauls governments
Firaxis has released an update for Civilization 7, adding local hotseat multiplayer functionality that allows multiple players to take turns on a single PC. The update also introduces a new archipelago map type, deeper city mood mechanics, and government system overhauls, alongside the first part of the Brush and Blade DLC featuring Japanese civilizations.
XCOM miniatures game revealed, with an upgradable base and co-op adventure campaign
A new XCOM miniatures game, XCOM: The Miniatures Game, has been revealed and is set to launch in late 2026. This solo and co-op adventure wargame, based on XCOM: Enemy Unknown, will feature an upgradable base and technology research. Pre-orders begin in July, with a head-to-head mode pitting players against an alien menace also included.
Civilization is the most iconic turn-based series of all time, but Sid Meier considered making it an RTS: 'It could have easily gone in different directions'
Sid Meier, the creator of the Civilization series, revealed that the iconic turn-based strategy game was initially considered as a real-time strategy title, similar to Age of Empires. Meier and Bruce Shelley explored this direction after the success of Railroad Tycoon, but ultimately decided that a turn-based approach would better suit the game's complexity and accessibility. Despite this, the exploration of RTS concepts influenced later games like Age of Empires and Rise of Nations.
As Civilization 7's lengthy revitalisation continues, much-requested hotseat multiplayer is one of several new features arriving next week
Firaxis is releasing a major update for Civilization 7 next week, version 1.4.1, which will introduce the highly requested hotseat multiplayer mode. This update also includes a revamped Archipelago map, overhauled Governments and Happiness systems, and various bug fixes. Additionally, the first part of the paid Brush & Blade DLC, focusing on Korean and Japanese history, will launch alongside the free update.
I wish Bungie would stop designing excellent multiplayer shooters and go back to making fantasy strategy games where you…
This article expresses a desire for Bungie to return to developing strategy games like the Myth series, rather than focusing solely on excellent multiplayer shooters such as their new game Marathon. The author highlights the unique tactical squad management and physics-based combat of Myth, lamenting that the games are not readily available digitally or easily playable on modern systems, unlike Bungie's current output.
Star Wars Zero Company Preorders Are Live: Here’s What’s In Every Edition
Preorders are now live for Star Wars Zero Company, a turn-based tactics strategy game developed by Bit Reactor, set for release on August 27 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC. Both the Standard and Digital Deluxe Editions are available, with preorder bonuses including the Crystalline Astromech Cosmetic Pack. The Digital Deluxe Edition also features unique Clone Wars-era cosmetic items and the Shadow Collective DLC pack.
