XCOM: Enemy Unknown coming from Sid Meier studio

A new, new XCOM game has been announced via GameInformer, and if it all goes well this could be the one fans of the old-school RTS have been pining for. Entitled XCOM: Enemy Unknown, the tactics-heavy title is being developed by none other than Firaxis Games, the Take-Two Interactive subsidiary best known for Sid Meier's series of strategy games including Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri, Sid Meier's Pirates, and—of course—the Sid Meier Civilization franchise.

Under Firaxis' care, XCOM: Enemy Unknown will take the XCOM series back to its strategic roots, placing players in charge of a worldwide anti-alien defense force who must thwart a global invasion through sly thinking, political wranglings, and turn-based combat.

"It’s been a dream of ours to recreate X-COM with our unique creative vision. We’re huge fans of the original game and it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to re-envision a game that is as beloved as X-COM," explained Steve Martin, president of Firaxis Games. "We were careful to keep XCOM: Enemy Unknown true to the elements that made X-COM such a revered game while delivering an entirely new story and gameplay experience for both die-hard X-COM fans and newcomers to the franchise."

Today's reveal should come as good news for XCOM fans who have been stewing over 2K Marin's move to take the series down a more action-oriented path in its own reboot, simply entitled XCOM. Maybe this new XCOM addition is Take-Two's way of appeasing all parties? Regardless, now all XCOM fans can be happy... no?

XCOM: Enemy Unknown is coming to PS3, Xbox 360 and PC this fall.

Matt Bradford wrote news and features here at GamesRadar+ until 2016. Since then he's gone on to work with the Guinness World Records, acting as writer and researcher for the annual Gamer's Edition series of books, and has worked as an editor, technical writer, and voice actor. Matt is now a freelance journalist and editor, generating copy across a multitude of industries.