Firaxis reveals XCOM: Chimera Squad

Firaxis reveals XCOM: Chimera Squad

Standalone game in the XCOM universe

Firaxis have surprise-revealed a new game in the XCOM universe. Chimera Squad is a separate, standalone turn-based experience coming to PC. Set 5 years after the events of XCOM 2, the game will focus on an alliance between humans and aliens as they take on a growing underground resistance.

Chimera Squad takes the series’ turn-based format but throws in alternating turns and a new Breach Mode. This mode allows players to set up all of their teammates and their skills ahead of time, before unleashing chaos.

Here are the glorious bullet points from their PR:

  • Unique Alien and Human Agents: Each of the 11 agents have their own distinct personality and tactical abilities, including species-specific attacks like the Viper’s tongue pull;
  • Specialized and Complementary Classes: Execute devastating combos by teaming the right agents and utilizing cooperative actions. The difference between mission success and failure can depend wholly on team composition;
  • Re-Envisioned Tactical Combat: Missions are structured as a series of discrete, explosive encounters, keeping the action intense and unpredictable;
  • Breach Mode: Players will shape the battlefield to their advantage with a new combat phase that injects squads right into action. They will strategically assign agents to different entry points and coordinate their assault plans with a range of Breach-specific skills;
  • Interleaved Turns: An automatic initiative system will slot individual agents and enemies into an alternating turn order, creating new strategic possibilities based on what unit is queued to act next – and what unit is at the greatest risk when they do so;
  • Suspenseful Strategy Layer: Outside of combat, players will manage the operations of a high-tech HQ, where they must prioritize competing tasks, investigations and agent assignments in the face of a ticking clock: the constantly rising unrest in the city’s various districts, driving City 31 closer and closer to total anarchy.

XCOM: Chimera Squad launches on Steam & Windows for a special $9.99 price on April 24, before jumping to $19.99 on May 1.

Source: 2K/Firaxis