XCOM: Enemy Unknown

THE BUZZ: A press release from 2K Games has announced that they will be publishing a new strategy game set in the XCOM universe known as XCOM: Enemy Unknown, which should release shortly sometime after 2K Marin’s Shooter.

The game will be developed by Civilization studio Firaxis Games. “XCOM: Enemy Unknown introduces a wider console audience to what made the storied franchise great in the first place,” reads the reveal. ”This title is a full-on strategy game that puts players in command of a global anti-alien defense force.”

“XCOM’s leader needs a worldwide perspective where threats are identified, populations reassured, and national leaders mollified – but a tactical mind is just as critical considering every shot XCOM’s soldiers fire on the battlefield is under the player’s turn-based control.”

“It’s been a dream of ours to recreate X-COM with our unique creative vision. 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,” said Firaxis President Steve Martin. ”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.”

EGM’s TAKE: Not only do XCOM fans get an FPS re-imagining but now this new title will more heavily revolve around the squad-based strategy elements of the original 1993 XCOM and should satiate the purists out there who were skeptical of the FPS idea. It will be interesting to see how this one develops over time as they’re already looking at a summer-fall 2012 release for it.