The rumours were true (sort of): 2K's announced an XCom reboot exclusively for Xbox 360 and PC. Though it's not Irrational Games developing this one - it's the other BioShock studio, 2K Marin.
2K describes XCom as "the re-imagining of one of gaming's most storied and beloved franchises," claiming that it "combines the strategic core of the groundbreaking franchise with a suspense-filled narrative and distills it into a tense and unique first-person shooter experience."
2K's blurb reads: "XCOM is the re-imagining of the classic tale of humanity's struggle against an unknown enemy that puts players directly into the shoes of an FBI agent tasked with identifying and eliminating the growing threat.
"True to the roots of the franchise, players will be placed in charge of overcoming high-stake odds through risky strategic gambits coupled with heart-stopping combat experiences that pit human ingenuity - and frailty - against a foe beyond comprehension.
"By setting the game in a first-person perspective, players will be able to feel the tension and fear that comes with combating a faceless enemy that is violently probing and plotting its way into our world," the publisher says.
X-Com had been rumoured to be in development at BioShock creator, Ken Levine's studio, Irrational Games, but yesterday the LA Times reported that they're busy at work on an "original title".
2K boss, Christoph Hartmann said of the announcement: "With BioShock 2, the team at 2K Marin proved themselves as masters of first-person, suspenseful storytelling, and with XCOM they will re-imagine and expand the rich lore of this revered franchise. Players will explore the world of XCOM from an immersive new perspective and experience firsthand the fear and tension of this gripping narrative ride."
Great news that X Com is getting a reboot!! Just a shame its not being done by Ken Levine , I havent played Bioshock 2 so cant really comment on how 2K Marin might treat the franchise.
Here's hoping that its half as good as the original .
Can't help but thinking that the only thing X-Com about it will be the name on the box. There can't be that many things that could carry over from the series into a modern console shooter, in this day and age, can there? I mean, almost all the mechanics; from the turn based combat, through 4x style resource management/base building are either totally unfashionable on consoles, or just really hard to work into an FPS.
So then all you seem to be left with is the setting, which wasn't exactly all that, was it? Some aliens invade earth.
Looks like a fairly cynical attempt to bolster sales in yet another shooter, by sticking a name on the box that used to carry weight, is included in everyone's top 10s, but if someone released it today would be laughed all the way to the bargain bin.
It's clear from everyone here that if they don't turn it back into a turn-based strategy game no-one serious will buy it...
There's something about Western turn-based strategy games that reminds me of that slightly damp old PC keyboard smell
I thought my prayers were answered when I heard X-Com was getting an update but when someone told me Cliff Belsinski was working on it I walked out the room
Also, it's not an X360 exclusive if it's being released on PC as well is it? What you mean is it isn't being released on PS3, which does not equate it being an x360 exclusive. Alan Wake is an x360 exclusive. This isn't
Oh for f**k's sake. First Resident Evil gets turned into an action adventure (more emphasis on action) and now this. Why do developers choose to change a working and beloved game series so much to the point where it's almost a different genre (or in this case it IS a different genre)?
And I have to note that I LOVED Enemy Unknown.
Maybe I should be more open-minded? I mean these are only the first details. But the letters "FPS" have already made my blood boil.
NB: I considered RE a Survival Horror before. Now it's just run and gun. At no point did RE5 have me 'On edge'.
Oh for f**k's sake. First Resident Evil gets turned into an action adventure (more emphasis on action) and now this. Why do developers choose to change a working and beloved game series so much to the point where it's almost a different genre (or in this case it IS a different genre)?
And I have to note that I LOVED Enemy Unknown.
Maybe I should be more open-minded? I mean these are only the first details. But the letters "FPS" have already made my blood boil.
NB: I considered RE a Survival Horror before. Now it's just run and gun. At no point did RE5 have me 'On edge'.
How is RE4 and RE5 run and gun when you can't even walk and shoot at the same time. Dead Space is more run and gun than RE5. RE4 was one of the greatest games of all time, deal with it.
And how is this game exclusive when it's on PC and 360?. I'm going to make a game that's exclusive to Wii, 360, PS3, PC, DS and PSP. The most exclusive game of all time.
So it's a remake of X-COM Enforcer then. Not very exciting that game didn't do too well. If you are going to remake X-COM you would hope that they would pick the good X-COM games and not the dodgy spin-offs that dragged the series down the gutter.
I'm for one are glad, i loved old-skool xcom (brought the lot off steam) but i always wanted to play XCOM:Alliance, before it was cancelled. If its anything like that i'm buying it for sure.
Hello? Hello? Listen, it’s Bob calling, Bob Marin of 2K Marin? Ya, ya, don’t worry about it.
Listen, I’ve got a dozy for you! We’re going to take some old rusty product and revamp it so that all the kids will love it.
Here it is; X-Com, and here’s the beautiful bit, on X-box. Do you see? Box, Com, Box, Com – X. X-Box – X Com. I know I know – Exclusive too! What ? Oh yeah sure, sure we’ll put it out on the PC but exclusively! To go with the X-Box exclusivity – hey! Why not put it exclusively on all the platforms? I'm good huh?!
Don’t worry about that; Marketing will come up with the strap line. Hey, how about PC-Com and Wii-Com? Just a thought.
Anyway, anyway we’re going to make it just like the original but also just like Call of Julie – Modern Warfare. See? Brilliant? The kids love that stuff; they pxxx their pants for it. Say what? Duty? Who the hell’s Duty? Call of Duty? That’s what I said, anyway kid you keep your mouth shut; you’ll learn something.
So, we take what made the first great and we get rid of all that rubbish and we keep what really made it great; the name, but you know we may need to change that to be more like that Duty Calling game we spoke about.
I tell you if this comes off we’re all living in Bel Air.
How is RE4 and RE5 run and gun when you can't even walk and shoot at the same time. Dead Space is more run and gun than RE5. RE4 was one of the greatest games of all time, deal with it.
And how is this game exclusive when it's on PC and 360?. I'm going to make a game that's exclusive to Wii, 360, PS3, PC, DS and PSP. The most exclusive game of all time.
Ok run, stop then gun. RE5 was more like Gears Of War than anything else with more focus on all out action.
Also I actually thoroughly enjoyed RE4, the villagers were quite terrifying at times. But RE5 was as I said above, a reskinned GoW and stripped of the last shred of what made RE, well, RE. For me RE2 was the best in the series followed by the original. So um... what should I deal with? Seems to me you don't like people with an opinion. Maybe you should deal with your attitude before telling people what they should deal with, eh?
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why can't they stick to the true format and make it a turn based strategy game with modern day graphics and effects. Can't say I'm very excited by this FPS X Com.
I got to admit this sounds like a cheap cash in on a classic franchise , still if the chrysallids were able to give me (and indeed any X-COM player who crossed their path)nightmares imagine what they can do in a first person viewmode......
Any of you young people who have no idea what xcom is its on steam for about a quid or so but be warned the game is immensely addictive and will consume your life (Assuming you don't get p**sed off by being mind controlled by them sectoids and them floating cloak thingy enemys)
I remember being right at the end of the game and getting very very frustrated with its incrediably hard difficulty because the game sometimes seems like it was as hard as Mike Tyson was in his prime.
They don't make games like that anymore which saddens me so much, thinking about it i have to say it was one of the deepest games i have ever played and a sorely missed classic from what now is a dead genre.
I don't understand why'd they'd make it an fps. Especially with Natal around the corner, seems to me that sort of motion control would be perfect for making a good Strategy games on the 360.
Then again it being in first person might not be the end of the world, if it was x com meets deus ex i definately wouldn't complain.
What a missed opportunity! And what a bunch of utterly clueless publishers trying to cash in on a series that, at its best, specialised in cerebral turn-based strategy by making... an FPS.
Didn't the last attempt at making an FPS out of this series (X-Com Alliance) disappear without trace? I can only hope the same happens to this.
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, I havent played Bioshock 2 so cant really comment on how 2K Marin might treat the franchise. 
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