Info (XCOM2)

This page is to collect all the information related to Firaxis' upcoming XCOM 2 game, released through official channels and confirmed sources. XCOM 2 will be released on February 5, 2016. On September 10, 2015, the game was released for pre-order on steam.²¹ ²²

When adding new info please make sure to properly attribute its source(s). If there are conflicting pieces of information from different sources, list both and add them the {{Verify}} template. Any discussion/speculation about the game should be kept away from this page, use instead the Talk:XCOM2 page.

Storyline

The new game takes place 20 years after Earth's surrender to the aliens during the invasion. According to Jake Solomon, XCOM lost the initial alien invasion and as Earth surrendered, XCOM went underground to continue the fighting³.
According to XCOM 2' storyline, XCOM never made it out of conventional weapons before the surrender. To Firaxis, the first game has ended with the same result of the majority of games played on Impossible Ironman, with a loss for the player. According to official stats, only 1.1% of players have earned the achievement for winning on Impossible and 1.7% for completing Ironman. ¹⁰
The aliens established a world government called 'Advent Administration' staffed with human collaborators and their propaganda claims that the aliens had came initially in peace but by engaging the aliens in combat XCOM has caused countless casualties. They also created a holiday called 'Unification Day' to mark the date of their take over of Earth. ¹²
The alien overlords have built megacities where war, poverty, crime and disease are supposedly eradicated, but which only serve as a cover for more sinister plans for humankind. Those cities have been built to attract the human population into them by offering gene therapy⁴.
- The megacities are a nod to XCOM: Apocalypse⁴.
The rest of humanity lives on the wilderness, where XCOM operates and there will also be missions there. Variety of combat environments.

Engine

Wide mod support: you can create maps, new races, story lines and campaigns and share them via Steam Workshop.
Game will be PC exclusive.
XCOM 2 will run on a heavy modified version of the Unreal Engine 3.5 ⁶.

DLCs

Three DLCs have been already announced as part of XCOM: Reinforcement Pack³¹:

Anarchy's Children - more content to customize soldiers as guerrilla fighters (coming on Spring 2016)
Alien Hunters - new mission, customization, armor, weapons to play as an elite unit tracking high-profile aliens (Spring 2016)
Shen's Last Gift - new soldier class, with the additional weapons, etc., as well as an extra mission (Summer 2016)

Characters

The XCOM Commander (a.k.a. the player) was apparently captured by the aliens some time after a massive attack on the XCOM base and placed in stasis; the majority of EU2012 is explained as being combat simulations that the Elders had the Commander perform to improve their soldiers' tactics. The game begins with the rescue of the Commander by the new XCOM (which was cobbled together from the few old veterans like Bradford and new recruits).
John Bradford reappears on XCOM 2 still in his role as 'Central'. ¹⁰ According to the developers Bradford has been on the run until XCOM was reinstated, and until then he was a broken man due to the crushing defeat of XCOM during the invasion. Bradford's first name was revealed by the developers on the media blitz before the release.
Dr. Vahlen also appears on the prequel book that was launched before the release of the game, although at end she disappears and it is implied that she has been captured by the aliens. She is not seen in the game and her fate remains ambiguous.
Dr. Richard Tygan replaces Vahlen as the lead scientist onboard the Avenger. He was a former Advent researcher who decided to fight the aliens after witnessing their actions. According to Jake Solomon, Tygan's last name comes from his two favorite scientists: Dr. Carl Sagan and Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson³⁰
Dr. Raymond Shen has passed away during the 20 years since XCOM lost the war, although he did manage to successfully teach his daughter everything he knew, allowing her to take up his position in the organization.²⁰
The position of Chief Engineer is now taken by An-Yi "Lily" Shen, who is responsible for the Avenger and has her own personal GREMLIN drone "ROV-R".

Avenger

XCOM HQ is now a captured Alien Supply Ship that has been converted as a mobile command center to waging a guerrilla style war against the aliens. This ship has been named the Avenger, as a nod to the Avenger of the original game
List of Facilities
- Bridge
- Workshop
- Power Relay
- Research
- Engineering
  - View Engineers
  - View Inventory
  - Build Facilities
  - Build Items
- Living Quarters
- Bar/Memorial
- Guerrilla Tactics School
- Armory
  - Memorial
  - Recruit
  - Guerrilla Tactics School
  - View Soldiers
- Command
- Alien Debris
- Alien Machinery
- Exposed Power Coil

Guerrilla Tactics School

Can be assigned a soldier to be trained in a specific class
Available Improvements for purchase:
- Vulture: Enemies drop an additional item when dropping loot
- Squad Size I = +1 to squad size
- Wet Work = +25 EXP to kills
- Vengeance = If a squadmate dies or is critically wounded, gain random tactical bonus for 2 turns
- Integrated Warfare = PCS (Personal Combat Sim) bonuses are significantly improved
- Squad Size II = Additional +1 to squad size
- Lightning Strike = +3 Mobility to all soldiers for first two Concealment turns
- Stay With Me = Soldiers will be more likely to bleed out than die outright
- Grenadier: Biggest Booms = Explosions can cause Critical Hits
- Ranger: Hunter's Instinct = Attacks against flanked enemies deal +2 damage
- Sharpshooter: Deadshot = +10% Critical Chance in all circumstances.
- Specialist: Cool Under Pressure = Overwatch no longer suffers an Aim penalty, and shots from Overwatch can critically hit.

Soldiers

The squad at the beginning of the game is not an elite force, but the player is in charge of a 'rag tag, freedom fighters, guerrilla fighters. They look like irregular troops.
Soldiers appear to have 'Character Skills' (check Tactical picture)
Customization now also applies to left/right arms, shoulders, etc., to reflect the rag tag nature of XCOM. Characters can also earn unique characterization features. Possible to change the gender/nationality of all human units.
Squad sizes remain at 4-6 units.
Carrying ability - when evacuating it is possible for soldiers to carry back to base the bodies of their injured or dead comrades⁴.
All classes are capable of hacking, however only the Specialist can perform some hacks. Hacking includes devices, terminals, robotic aliens and possibly other targets.⁹.
Customized soldiers can be saved to a player's pool of possible soldiers, allowing them to appear in a different campaign.²⁴
Pre-ordering the game grants access to the Resistance Warrior Pack, which features new customization options for your soldiers as well as a "Survivor of the Old War".²¹ ²²

Classes

There are 5 classes: Ranger, Sharpshooter, Grenadier, Specialist, and Psi Operative.
- The first four classes are evolved versions of the original 4 classes: Assault, Sniper, Heavy, and Support, respectively.
- The 5th class is dedicated Psi user. This is a departure from the previous game, where the Psionic "class" was an add-on to existing soldiers.
- There will be a 6th class available with the Shen's Last Gift DLC.
  - This 6th class, the SPARK, is a robotic unit not unlike the MEC Troopers from Enemy Within.

Sharpshooter

New version of Sniper, can specialize in Pistol skills in alternative to the sniper rifle.
Can wield both a sniper rifle and a pistol effectively, depending on skill tree choices¹⁷.
Death From Above ability - grants an extra action when an enemy at a lower elevation is killed. (Sniper skill)¹⁷
Fan Fire ability - allows three shots against a single target. (Pistol skill)¹⁷.

Ranger

New version of Assault class, carries sword, can engage on melee combat.
Rangers carry either a Shotgun or Assault Rifle as primary weapons and a machete sword⁸.
They are either damage dealing assaults or scouts that can move quickly and silently and even climb walls⁸.
While advancing, they can be followed and buffed/protected by the Gremlin drone carried by the Specialist⁸.
Slash ability - attack any enemy within movement range with your sword³²
Phantom ability - when the squad is revealed, this soldier stays concealed¹⁸.
Blademaster skill - deal +2 extra damage on all sword attacks³².
Shadowstrike skill - while concealed, gain +25 bonus aim and +25 bonus critical hit chance when attacking enemies¹⁸.
Shadowstep skill - this soldier does not trigger overwatch or reaction fire³².
Conceal ability - immediately enter concealment once per mission³².
Run and Gun ability - take an action after dashing. Does not work with sword slashes³².
Implacable skill - if you score one or more kills on your turn, you are granted a single bonus move³².
Bladestorm skill - free sword attacks on any enemies that enter or attack from melee range³².
Deep Cover skill - if you did not attack this turn, hunker down automatically ³².
Untouchable skill - if you score a kill during your turn, the next attack against you during the enemy turn will miss. This even includes area of effect attacks like grenades³².
Rapid Fire ability - fire twice in a row at an enemy. Each shot suffers an Aim penalty of -15. There is no cooldown on this ability³².
Reaper ability - a devastating chain melee attack where the first melee attack cannot miss. Each melee kill in Reaper mode grants an extra action, but further melee attacks have reduced damage³².

Specialist

Carries a 'Gremlin' drone that can be used as a secondary weapon, for stunning aliens or buff allies, or for hacking. The evolution of the Support class.
Specialist is either support (healing, support buffs, boosting stats) or offensive (hacking and controlling enemies)⁹.
Gremlin can carry a stun area effect weapon, heal, scout or even be assigned to protect a Ranger⁴.
- Can be upgraded to carry the stun area effect weapon or to hack a terminal ⁹.
Gremlin doesn't move on its own - the Specialist needs to spend its action move for a turn to guide it.
Specialists can get the Intrusion Protocol ability at later ranks, which allows it to hack and control robotic enemies.⁹
Specialist class can improve its hacking skills faster than others⁹.
Intrusion Protocol ability - The Gremlin hacks a robotic enemy and disables or takes over it¹².
Aid Protocol ability - The Gremlin grants a friendly target a bonus to Defense until the start of the next player turn¹⁸.
Hacker ability - attempt to breach security on a network access point with the Gremlin¹⁸.

Grenadier

The evolution of the Heavy from Enemy Unknown.²⁵
- The two ability trees for the Grenadier are called Demo Expert and Heavy Gunner.²⁵
Wield a Grenade Launcher and a Cannon.²⁵
Can be trained to focus on demoltion with the Grenade Launcher, or on making the most of the cannon.²⁵
New ability, Salvo, allows the Grenadier to use a grenade or heavy weapon without ending his turn.²⁵
Shredder ability, disintegrates enemy armor²⁵
New ability, Rupture, a "critical damage attack" that ensures the affected unit takes increased damage from all future attacks.²⁵

Combat System

At the start of mission the player will have to move its units without being detected to their objectives. A lot of different elements can break concealment, not just enemies but civilians as well. Scanners can also break concealment⁴.
- Every XCOM unit starts the mission in concealment.⁸.
While in concealment, XCOM always has the first shot (in that aliens/ADVENT don't scatter for cover when spotted) due to more emphasis on stealth and soldier placement before a firefight starts.
Aliens will react differently when XCOM reveals its presence: some may still scatter, while others may be completely surprised.⁴.
New concealment system that uses waypoints to move and set up soldiers.
Loot system - timers to recover items carried by dead aliens or even your own fallen soldiers (somewhat similar to Meld on EW). Inventory plays a bigger role since XCOM is also living off loot and scavenging.
- You can find same kind of loot in chests scattered around the maps, but timed mission make complete sweeps quite difficult.
Weapon upgrades - variety of those⁴.
- Autoloaders - Grants free reload¹⁷.
- Expanded Magazines - Increased ammo capacity¹⁷.
- Can be salvaged from the battlefield and needs to be researched before use¹⁷.
Secondary mission objectives that can be completed instead of the primary one.
Call for EVAC can be done anywhere on the map on most mission types, as long as there is space for the Skyranger to land. There's still a danger of getting stopped by enemies when trying to reach the area designated for evacuation⁴.
Meld will not be a part of the game and XCOM will not be able to create MEC Troopers, although ADVENT will field MECs of its own ¹³.

Maps

Procedure generated maps. Large set of tiles (buildings, etc.) which are combined together to create maps. AI also made more procedural to better use the new map system. Terrain will be more dynamic and destructible, including exploding barrels and acid holes. Even floors and ceilings are destructable⁴.
Free Aim (being able to target any feature, including terrain) will still be limited to weapons such grenades and rockets.⁷
- However, you can target explosive terrain features (such as propane tanks or gas tanks) with regular weapons if there are enemies in blast radius.
According to Lead Producer Garth DeAngelis, each map is a 'quilt' with holes where buildings are plugged, and the space between the buildings can be occupied with elements to display a variety of environments. ⁵.
The space can be occupied by a variety of elements, and there are about 20 'diorama' sets that can be used when designing maps.

Aliens/Enemies

The aliens have evolved significantly over 20 years and are much stronger; XCOM soldiers will not be able to take on aliens on their own early on.⁴
Both new and old aliens are present.
There are yet undisclosed mechanical aliens.⁹
Aliens are able to call for reinforcements at any time.¹²
ADVENT Troopers - human soldiers which act as city security on behalf of the aliens. They carry magnetic weaponry.⁴ ²³
- Speak a language unlike any human ones, and are nicknamed "Jabbers" by XCOM soldiers because of it.¹⁹
- Genetically modified to the point of inhuman, with no hair, flattened ears, and large, silvery eyes far apart with no orbs or pupils.¹⁹
ADVENT Officers - clad in red armor with cape, stronger variants of Troopers.²³
- Can AoE buff standard Troopers with "Command Aura" ability.²³
- Can mark an XCOM soldier for death, forcing any Troopers in the area to focus fire on that soldier²³
- Can summon reinforcements from ADVENT VTOL dropships.
ADVENT Shieldbearers - big, heavy troopers that can provide a Shield Bonus to other nearby enemy units on the battlefield.¹⁹ ²⁸
ADVENT Stun Lancers - aggressive soldiers who will try to get close to XCOM soldiers without regards for their own safety; can disable soldiers with a stun attack.²⁷
ADVENT MECs - similar to MEC Troopers and can do AoE damage with micro-missiles.¹²
ADVENT Turrets - stationary Gauss turrets which can be hacked by XCOM soldiers.¹²
ADVENT Security Tower - scanning devices placed at checkpoints and other locations that can reveal XCOM soldiers out of concealment.
- Can be hacked for various perks, such as 'Disorient' ("Disorient enemies for 2 turns") or 'Central Command' ("Gain control of all robotic units for 1 turns.")
- On a failed hack, there are repercussions, such as 'Reinforcements' ("A failed hack will result in a group of enemy reinforcements being called down on your position")²⁹
Sectoids - Have now been modified with human DNA, making them bigger and possessing more psionic powers from the start.
- Still carries the wrist-mounted plasma blaster.¹¹
- Mindspin is an ability that can either disorient, panic, or mind control its target.
- Psi Reanimate can raise dead humans and ADVENT as "Psi Zombies" for the Sectoid to control.¹¹
Vipers - inspired by the Snakemen from the original 1994 Enemy Unkown.
- These are the true forms of the Thin Men.⁴
- Tongue Pull can pull your soldiers from cover.¹¹
- Bind locks soldiers in place and deals damage, much like the Seeker's Strangle ability from Enemy Within.¹¹
- Poison Spit is retained from their Thin Men forms.¹¹
"Dark Collaborators" - humanlike individuals which may be assassination objectives.¹²
Muton Berserkers - Evolved to be deadlier than before.¹²
Codex - golden humanoids capable of replicating and teleportation.³³
Mutons - Evolved with Human DNA to be smarter and deadlier.¹⁵
- Gets to use Suppression right off the bat.¹⁵
- Still has Alien Grenades, and will use them against groups of soldiers that don't watch their spacing.¹⁵
- Has equipped a bayonet on the front of their Plasma Rifles for use in melee.¹⁵
  - As a result, the Muton has an ability called Counterattack that lets them ignore a Ranger's melee attack, and counter with a melee attack of their own.¹⁵
Chryssalids - Evolved to be deadlier than before.
- All melee attacks cause poison, which can only be cured with a Medikit. ¹⁶
- XCOM soldiers and civilians killed by poison become cocoons.¹⁶
- If a cocoon is not destroyed during the gestation period, three new Chryssalids emerge.¹⁶
- Can burrow underground, but cannot move while burrowed.¹⁶
Ethereals - Appear in various art around Advent cities. There's also a reference to 'Elders' in ADVENT propaganda.¹²
The Faceless - an alien race that can mimic the forms of other people.²⁴
- Undetectable before they transform from their civilian form.²⁶
- "Central advises dispatching this unit from afar, Commander" - they presumably have a short-ranged or melee attack.²⁶
Archons - modified Floaters which looks like angels.
- Blazing Pinions - AoE attack like Cluster Bomb of Sectopod.
- Wounded Archon will enter a frenzied state enabling them to melee attack nearby XCOM soldiers.
Andromedons - organic-synthetic hybrid enemies.

Modding

Firaxis plans to release an Unreal Development Kit for XCOM 2 and the editor used to add content, either in November or later.⁷
There will be Steam Workshop integration to facilitate distribution of mods ⁷.
It will be possible to "literally make an Enemy Unknown map.”⁷

Media

XCOM 2 Official Site
Tactical - Ranger class (notice sword icon)
Avenger - mobile XCOM base
Inside Avenger
Officer Bradford "Central"
New transport (updated Skyranger?)
XCOM squad
XCOM squad concealed
XCOM soldier
XCOM soldiers
Ranger class
Specialist class
XCOM Specialist and Gremlin drone
Sharpshooter
Sectoid (with human DNA)
Sectoid (with human DNA)
Viper (snakewoman)
Viper
Evolved Berserker
Evolved Berserker
Evolved Chryssalid
Advent Administration
Advent Soldier
Advent Soldiers
Advent Captain
Advent Soldiers and Captain
Advent MECs
Advent MEC
Muton (with human DNA)
Muton (with human DNA)

Concepts
Sectoid
Viper
Soldier
Bradford
Advent units

Terrains
Advent City Center (dusk)
Advent City Center (rain)
Advent City Center (fast food)
Wilderness types

Twitter, Initial Trailer and Gameplay Footage Captures
A version of EXALT's logo?
Advent soldier with Ethereal image behind it
XCOM Squad at extraction
A "dark collaborator", possibly related to Thin Men (notice eye glasses and neck spots)
Concealment system

Sources

1 - Official XCOM 2 site [1]
2 - IGN's 'XCOM 2 Reveal Trailer' [2]
3 - IGN's 'XCOM 2: Welcoming our new alien overlords' video and article/interview with Jake Solomon [3].
4 - IGN's 'XCOM 2 Reveal Trailer Rewind Theater' with Jake Solomon and Garth DeAngelis [4]
5 - IGN's 'XCOM 2’s Procedurally Generated Maps' [5].
6 - IGN's 'Why XCOM 2 had to be PC exclusive' [6].
7 - IGN's 'XCOM 2's Exciting Modding Potential' article [7].
8 - IGN's 'Meet The XCOM 2 Ranger' article and video [8]
9 - IGN's 'Meet The XCOM 2 Specialist' article and video [9]
10 - XCOM 2'S Bleak Future: Why Impossible Mode Is Canon - IGN First' article and video interview [10].
11 - IGN's 'Meet the XCOM2 Sectoid and Viper' [11]
12 - IGN's First XCOM 2 Gameplay Footage [12]
13 - IGN's "E3 2015: No Meld, MEC Troopers in XCOM 2" [13]
14 - IGN's 'Meet the XCOM2 Muton' article [14]
15 - Official XCOM2 Blog Post on XCOM2 Muton [15]
16 - XCOM 2 Exclusive Class Reveal: The Chryssalid [16]
17 - XCOM 2 Exclusive Class Reveal: The Sharpshooter [17]
18 - Official XCOM 2 “Welcome to the Avenger” Gameplay [18]
19 - XCOM 2: Resurrection preview [19]
20 - MEET THE PERSONNEL OF THE AVENGER IN XCOM 2 [20]
21 - XCOM: ENEMY UNKNOWN IS FREE-TO-PLAY ON STEAM THIS WEEKEND [21]
22 - XCOM 2 on steam - [22]
23 - IGN's 'Meet The XCOM 2 Advent Soldiers' article and video [23]
24 - Firaxis Mega Panel at PAX Prime – Rising Tide and XCOM 2 [24]
25 - XCOM 2’S GRENADIER TURNS DEMOLITION INTO AN ARTFORM [25]
26 - XCOM 2’S FACELESS HIDES AMONG US [26]
27 - XCOM 2’S ADVENT STUN LANCER WILL DO ANYTHING TO GET NEAR [27]
28 - THE ADVENT SHIELDBEARER STANDS ITS GROUND IN XCOM 2 [28]
29 - WAR HAND - XCOM 2 Hands-On Gameplay #1 with Beagle! [29]
30 - And tiny tidbit, XCOM's Dr. Tygan's name is a nod to my favorite scientists: Dr. Carl Sagan and Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson
31 - Three XCOM 2 Expansions Announced, Detailed [30]
32 - ChristopherOdd's "XCOM 2's Ranger Class Skill Tree Breakdown" video [31]
33 - GameTrailers XCOM 2 preview video [32]