XCOM
News, coverage and analysis tracking XCOM across the outlets.
A Warhammer-style XCOM miniatures game is on the way from developers of Fallout FactionsModiphius Entertainment has announced XCOM The Miniatures Game, a tabletop wargame inspired by the rebooted XCOM series. The game is described as being in the vein of Warhammer 40K and is expected to feature tactical gameplay with terrain and cover mechanics. More details will be revealed to fans who sign up for updates.
XCOM To Get Miniatures-Focused Tabletop Game Celebrating 30 Years Of FiraxisFiraxis announced a new XCOM tabletop miniatures game as part of its 30th-anniversary celebration. Developed by Modiphius Entertainment, the game will be inspired by XCOM: Enemy Unknown. Details on pricing and release date are forthcoming, though a previous XCOM board game was released by Fantasy Flight in 2015.
Fan Wants Shadowrun Reboot as Diablo-Style Isometric Action RPGA Reddit discussion proposes rebooting the Shadowrun franchise as a Diablo-style isometric action RPG, moving away from its traditional tactical roots. This suggestion highlights the broader industry trend favoring action-oriented gameplay over turn-based strategy for commercial viability, while acknowledging the potential for hybrid approaches and the unique strengths of the cyberpunk setting for this genre.
XCOM spiritual successor Warhounds dumps its gen-AI portraits, and I'm breathing a sigh of reliefDeveloper Everplay has announced that its upcoming turn-based strategy game Warhounds will be moving away from generative AI-generated character portraits. Following community feedback, the team will replace the AI portraits with over 100 hand-made ones created directly from the game's 3D character models. The game, inspired by XCOM and Jagged Alliance, is planned for a 2026 launch and will feature tactical combat and squad specialization.
DayZ creator Dean 'Rocket' Hall has over 2,000 hours in Kerbal Space Program and played the original XCOM at Mount Everest base camp: 'I think when I die, I will still be playing that game'DayZ creator Dean Hall discusses his extensive gaming habits, revealing over 2,000 hours in Kerbal Space Program and a lifelong love for XCOM, which he played at Mount Everest base camp. Hall, founder of RocketWerkz, also shares his current passion for RimWorld and Ostranauts, and his belief that XCOM is a game he will play until he dies.
Games Inbox: Will GTA 6 be better than GTA 5?Readers discuss whether Grand Theft Auto 6 will surpass Grand Theft Auto 5, with concerns raised about potential changes in writing and dialogue due to developer departures from Rockstar Games. Other topics include the Nintendo Switch's sales performance against the PlayStation 5, Sony's first-party game output, and the reliability of game previews.
Games Inbox: What is your favourite retro video game format?Readers discuss their favorite retro gaming formats, with the Atari ST, ZX Spectrum, and Commodore 64 being popular choices. The discussion also touches on anticipation for upcoming games like The Witcher 4 and Switch 2, as well as the perceived decline of studios like Firaxis.
Xenonauts 2 Review – Punishing Strategy With Incredible DepthXenonauts 2 is a challenging turn-based strategy game that pays homage to the original X-COM series. It features deep base management and resource allocation alongside punishing tactical combat where every decision matters. Despite its difficulty, the game offers a rewarding experience for players who invest time into its complex systems.
Board Games for Video Gamers: Tabletop That Feels Like Your Favorite GamesThis guide matches board games to popular video game genres, suggesting titles like Slay the Spire: The Board Game for roguelike fans and Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion for action RPG players. It emphasizes that many board games offer similar strategic depth and satisfying loops to video games, often with a lower time commitment and a unique social element.
Star Wars Zero Company Studio Founder Says Call With Vince Zampella Led to Project’s DevelopmentBit Reactor studio founder Gregory Foertsch revealed that a call from Vince Zampella inspired the development of Star Wars Zero Company, a turn-based tactics game set in the Star Wars universe. The game, officially unveiled in April 2025, is coming to PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, with its story set between Episode 2 and Episode 3. Foertsch aimed to create a grittier atmosphere, drawing inspiration from Rogue One and The Clone Wars.
Star Wars Zero Company exists because late Call of Duty co-creator Vince Zampella wanted to know about an XCOM veteran's dream game: "Do you think you can make a Star Wars game with this?"Late Call of Duty co-creator Vince Zampella initiated the development of Star Wars Zero Company by contacting a veteran XCOM developer about their dream game. Zampella, who passed away in 2025, was known for his significant influence in the industry. The project aims to create a Star Wars game within the strategy and tactics genre.
Star Wars: Zero Company Brings Fire Emblem-Style Consequences To Its BattlesStar Wars: Zero Company will feature a permadeath mode inspired by Fire Emblem, where accumulating three battlefield injuries will result in a character's permanent removal from the game. Narrative lead Aaron Contreras revealed this feature was added midway through development, emphasizing the Star Wars theme of loss. The protagonist, Hawks, is the only character exempt from permadeath.
Star Wars Zero Company lets you explore like it's a third-person action game outside of combat, and it sounds like the same kind of X-factor that helped Baldur's Gate 3 break out beyond the CRPG nerdsStar Wars Outlaws aims to broaden the appeal of strategy games by incorporating third-person exploration elements outside of its turn-based combat, similar to how Baldur's Gate 3 achieved mainstream success. Developer Bit Reactor is focusing on balancing deep gameplay with AAA production values and storytelling.
Star Wars Zero Company will kill story characters, Fire Emblem-style: Narrative lead says "I lost an argument about…Star Wars Zero Company will feature permadeath for its story characters, a decision narrative lead Aaron Contreras embraced after initially losing an argument against it. This mechanic, inspired by games like Fire Emblem, aims to emphasize the theme of loss inherent in the Star Wars universe and discourage save scumming.- No Hero Fights Alone — Forsworn Reveal Trailer UnveiledResummon Studios LLC has unveiled the first trailer for Forsworn, a roguelike turn-based tactical RPG. The game emphasizes powerful party synergies and deep build-crafting systems, drawing inspiration from titles like Divinity: Original Sin, Baldur's Gate 3, and XCOM. Forsworn is being developed by solo developer Dat Le and is set in a realm consumed by divine war.
Throwback XCOM successor Xenonauts 2 leaves early access in April, though the developer says the milestone…Xenonauts 2, a successor to the classic XCOM formula developed by Goldhawk Interactive, will leave Steam Early Access on April 2. The developer plans to continue supporting the game with patches and will release modding tools post-launch. The original Xenonauts was released in 2014 and praised for its faithful adaptation of X-COM: UFO Defense's core mechanics.
The solution to staleness in modern gaming is cross-pollination - Reader's FeatureA reader proposes that cross-pollination of ideas between different genres and franchises is the key to combating staleness in modern gaming. The article provides numerous examples of successful genre blends, such as Castlevania becoming an RPG or Zelda incorporating rhythm mechanics, suggesting this approach can revitalize long-running series and create fresh experiences.
Dispatch is lying to you about RNG for your own good, just like XCOM: "Those guys are pretty smart, so we thought…Dispatch developer AdHoc Studio has admitted to intentionally manipulating the game's random number generation (RNG) to benefit players, a practice also employed by XCOM developer Firaxis. This approach aims to ensure a more favorable experience and prevent players from feeling unfairly penalized by bad luck.
Just like XCOM, superhero comedy Dispatch cheats random percentages of success in the player's favor: 'anything that had over a 76% success chance would automatically succeed'The game Dispatch, developed by AdHoc Studios, employs a mechanic similar to XCOM where random success percentages are subtly manipulated in the player's favor. This approach aims to mitigate the frustration of perceived unfairness from true randomness, though the developers noted that in the finale, these 'invisible helpers' are disabled to increase difficulty.
Valve’s Legacy DRM Locks Players Out of 150 Classic GamesValve's legacy DRM system, Steam CEG, is preventing players from accessing approximately 150 older games, including major franchises like XCOM and Call of Duty. This issue is impacting speedrunners and modders who rely on older game builds, and raises concerns about game preservation and historical access.