XCOM: Enemy Unknown
XCOM: Enemy Unknown, a 2012 turn-based tactics video game that was developed by Firaxis Games and published by 2K, is a "reimagined" version of the 1994 strategy game X-COM: UFO Defense—which is also known as UFO: Enemy Unknown—and a reboot of MicroProse's 1990s series X-COM. XCOM: Enemy Unknown' is set during an alien invasion of Earth in an alternative version of 2015; the player controls an elite, multinational, paramilitary organization called XCOM and commands troops in a series of turn-based tactical missions. Between missions, the player directs the research and development of technologies from recovered alien technology and captured prisoners, expands XCOM's base of operations, manages finances, and monitors and responds to alien activity.
| XCOM: Enemy Unknown | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Firaxis Games |
| Publisher(s) | 2K |
| Producer(s) | Garth DeAngelis |
| Designer(s) |
|
| Programmer(s) | Casey O'Toole |
| Artist(s) | Gregory Foertsch |
| Writer(s) |
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| Composer(s) | Michael McCann |
| Series | XCOM |
| Engine | Unreal Engine 3 |
| Platform(s) | |
| Release | |
| Genre(s) | Turn-based tactics, tactical role-playing |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Firaxis attempted to reboot the franchise in 2003 but no product was marketed. Development of XCOM: Enemy Unknown began in 2008 and lasted for four-and-a-half years. The game was initially envisioned as an exact remake of the 1994 game but the developers improved gameplay mechanics and introduced improvements to modernize the franchise for a new audience. The development cycle was longer than those of other Firaxis games because it was retooled several times during production. Jake Solomon led development of the game, and studio head Sid Meier provided input and assisted the team. Aliens from the original game return in Enemy Unknown, though Firaxis redesigned many of them. The game uses procedural generation for enemy placement and the development team handcrafted maps in the game. Michael McCann composed the game's music.
XCOM: Enemy Unknown was announced in January 2012, and was released for Windows PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in October 2012. Handheld and mobile versions of the game, co-developed by 2K China, were later released. The game received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised the turn-based combat, presentation, emergent gameplay, difficulty and replayability but criticized its multiplayer component. It was a commercial success for the publisher and several gaming publications nominated it for year-end accolades, including Game of the Year. In November 2013, Firaxis released an expansion pack called XCOM: Enemy Within and a sequel called XCOM 2 was released in 2016. XCOM: Enemy Unknown was often credited for renewing interest in the turn-based-tactics genre in the 2010s.