First Screens of XCOM: Enemy Unknown Emerge

Last week we learned that Civilization developer Firaxis is making a new version of XCOM. Called Enemy Unknown, this one will be a hybrid of turn-based and real-time strategy, just like the 1994 original. Battle will take place in turn-based format, and between battles gameplay will flow in real-time as you manage your gear, research and send out your fleet. Game Informer has the first screenshots, which show off the new graphical style and a view of combat.

The Game Informer story also addresses the question of how XCOM: Enemy Unknown's gameplay will be adjusted for the console audience. Soldiers on the battlefield can still be permanently killed, but other elements have been streamlined. You can tell the interface is a lot cleaner at least in its presentation, no word yet on how flexible it is. From the screen it appears as through it's possible to hide behind cover, and as Game Informer points out, line of sight will still be of huge importance.

XCOM: Enemy Unknown is currently scheduled to be released some time this fall for PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. It is not the same game as XCOM, a first-person shooter currently in development at 2K Marin.

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