feed.gg
Game81 articles

XCOM

News, coverage and analysis tracking XCOM across the outlets.

Latest coverage

81 articles · newest first
Eurogamer

Star Wars: Zero Company will be brilliant because XCOM is brilliant

Star Wars: Zero Company aims to blend the acclaimed turn-based tactics of XCOM with the Star Wars universe. Developed by Bit Reactor, a studio with many ex-Firaxis XCOM developers, the game features a linear narrative, third-person exploration segments in its base, and new mechanics like operator 'bonds' and 'Operations' to deepen squad management. The preview highlights how these additions, alongside familiar XCOM-like gameplay loops, create a compelling experience that feels both familiar and fresh.

thumb
Checkpoint Gaming

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.

IGN

Star Wars Zero Company Is a Turn-Based Tactics Adventure That’s Not Just For XCOM Experts | IGN Preview

Star Wars Zero Company is a turn-based tactics adventure that aims to be accessible to players beyond just XCOM experts. Hands-on with the first 10 hours of the campaign reveals a promising strategy game, despite some rough edges.

Retro Gamer

12 hours in, Star Wars Zero company is a solid strategy RPG, but it's missing XCOM 2 or Baldur's Gate 3's…

After 12 hours with Star Wars: Zero Company, the turn-based strategy game is described as solid but lacking the spark of titles like XCOM 2 or Baldur's Gate 3. The game features a mercenary outfit during the Clone Wars, with satisfying combat and squad progression, but its tactical systems and character variety may not sustain a long campaign.

thumb
PC GamesN

Star Wars Zero Company is deep strategy wrapped in a beautiful package

Star Wars Zero Company is a turn-based strategy game that blends deep tactical combat with extensive character and squad customization. The game features a unique Star Wars story with original characters and a presentation that rivals AAA titles. Its base-building and character bonding mechanics offer a sense of place and attachment not often seen in the genre, making it a potentially strong entry point for newcomers.

thumb
PC Gamer

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.

thumb
Gamespot

Star Wars Zero Company Is Good But Seems To Play Things Too Safe

Star Wars Zero Company is a competent turn-based tactics game that draws heavily from the XCOM formula, but it plays things too safe and fails to distinguish itself from its peers. While the game features a compelling Star Wars setting and a focus on character relationships and narrative, its core gameplay mechanics feel overly familiar. The developers at Bit Reactor, comprised of former XCOM team members, aim to push the genre forward, but the early hours suggest a reliance on established mechanics rather than innovation.

thumb
Metro UK

The best tabletop games for 2026 and beyond - and the most expensive jigsaw ever

The article highlights upcoming and recently released tabletop games, including video game adaptations like XCOM and Cult Of The Lamb, and new entries in established franchises such as Warhammer 40,000 and Pokémon. It also discusses the growing popularity of trading card games like Disney Lorcana and Riot Games' League of Legends TCG, alongside new roleplaying games based on Justice League and Ghost in the Shell.

thumb
FZ.se

Pokémon-skapare, Vietnamkrig och Star Wars – FZ High Score säsong 12 öppnar

The 12th season of FZ High Score has begun, challenging participants to predict the OpenCritic review scores for nine upcoming August game releases. This season features a diverse lineup including Pokémon-related adventures, superhero brawls, and Star Wars strategy titles. The "Boost Game" for August is Star Wars Zero Company, offering bonus points for accurate predictions.

thumb
PC Gamer

10 expansions that were better than the actual game

This article ranks ten DLC expansions that are considered superior to their original base games. Titles like Dishonored's 'The Knife of Dunwall and The Brigmore Witches,' Fallout: New Vegas's 'Old World Blues,' and Mass Effect 3's 'Citadel' are highlighted for their significant improvements and compelling content.

thumb
Blues News

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.

Shack News

Weekend PC Download Deals for July 31: Bethesda celebrates 40 years

Bethesda Softworks is celebrating its 40th anniversary with significant sales across its game catalog, including popular franchises like Doom, Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, and Quake. Numerous PC storefronts like Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG.com are participating, offering discounts on individual titles and bundles. Additionally, several free games are available for a limited time on platforms such as Amazon Luna.

thumb
FZ.se

Vilka är det som jobbar med FZ?

This article introduces the staff behind the Swedish gaming website FZ, describing them as passionate gamers with diverse tastes and strong opinions. It highlights their backgrounds, favorite games, music, films, and books, aiming to connect them with the FZ community.

thumb
Retro Gamer

Star Wars Zero Company is more XCOM than RPG, as dev confirms there's no branching story or romances: "This is still a turn-based tactics game at its heart"

Bit Reactor has confirmed that Star Wars Zero Company will not feature branching story paths or romance options, emphasizing its core identity as a turn-based tactics game. While there will be minor story moments influenced by squad composition, the overall narrative remains linear. The studio, comprised of former XCOM developers, is focusing on strategic gameplay over extensive RPG elements.

thumb
PC Gamer

'The last time I liked everything about a game was probably Baldur's Gate 3': Raphael Colantonio, co-founder of Arkane Studios, talks us through the games installed on his PC

Raphaël Colantonio, co-founder of Arkane Studios and WolfEye Studios, discusses the games installed on his PC, highlighting Baldur's Gate 3 as the last game he "liked everything about." He shares his thoughts on current plays like Mewgenics and Cyberpunk 2077, his enduring love for immersive sims like Thief and Deus Ex, and his early PC gaming roots with Ultima 7.

thumb
PC Gamer

Star Wars Zero Company is a 30-40 hour linear game with no New Game+, and I'm totally OK with this

Star Wars Zero Company is estimated to be a 30-40 hour linear experience with no New Game+ mode, a design choice the author finds acceptable. Developer Bit Reactor confirmed the game's length and linear structure, noting that some customization options will be unlockable on subsequent playthroughs, though official mod support will not be available.

thumb
PC Gamer

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.

thumb
PC Gamer

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.

thumb
The Sixth Axis

What We Played – Granblue Fantasy: Relink – Endless Ragnarok, The Mound & Black Flag. Again.

Several individuals shared their recent gaming experiences, including playing Granblue Fantasy: Relink on Nintendo Switch, Sonic Battle on Game Boy Advance SP, and Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag. Other titles mentioned include Silent Hill 2, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, God of War: Ascension, The Mound, Moonlight Peak, XCOM 2, Balatro, Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Red Dead Redemption 2, Echoes of Aincrad, Destiny 2, Split Fiction, Heave Ho 2, and 33 Immortals.

thumb
Gamespot

You Can Earn A $15,000 A Year For Mastering Your Favorite Game

The University of Silicon Valley has launched the Max Achievement Scholarship program, offering up to $15,000 annually to students who demonstrate exceptional mastery in video games. Applicants must complete specific, often rare, in-game achievements across over 50 listed titles or meet platform-specific criteria to qualify for Legendary or Mastery tiers.