XCOM: Enemy Unknown Coming This Fall from Firaxis

Firaxis Games' latest project is XCOM: Enemy Unknown, a turn-based strategy game set in the classic X-COM universe. The new title, which will be fully revealed in the February issue of Game Informer, is slated for release on the PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 this fall.

Personally speaking, I'm flabbergasted that they're changing a beloved franchise so dramatically. XCOM has always been about action-packed FPS gameplay, and to suddenly decide that you're going to make it into a turn-based strategy game with a heavy focus on tactical combat seems absurd. To make things worse, it looks like they've replaced the prismatic, shape-shifting aliens with generic looking Greys.

I don't understand it at all. If 2K wanted to do something different, they should have just made a new IP, instead of trying to cash in on our nostalgia.

All jokes aside, it's nice to see that the diehard X-COM fans who were so offended by the 2K Marin reboot will be getting exactly what they wanted. Firaxis, and they seem very dedicated to keeping the core mechanics of the franchise intact. The areas that they do plan to modernize — the phrase "destructible tactical environments" sounds particularly juicy — should keep the game from feeling dated, and even open it up to a brand new audience.