Home Gaming XCOM: Enemy Within – the Enemy Unknown expansion

XCOM: Enemy Within – the Enemy Unknown expansion

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XCOM_EW_Screen_001

After years of silence about XCOM, it has certainly made a come back. In fact, Firaxis is launching an expansion to Enemy Unknown titled Enemy Within – and it sounds bigger and better than ever!

I chatted to Garth DeAngelis (Producer) and Ananda Gupta (Lead Designer) from Firaxis and got a bunch of details for you. Enemy Within in an expansion in the traditional Friaxis approach – it adds new elements to the existing game, so if you’ve never played Enemy Unknown it will still feel like one coherent game, while for those who have played the new XCOM, it will add new features and experiences. Beyond adding maps, here are some of the cool additions to the game.

New Resource

XCOM_EW_Screen_HandsOn_17          

XCOM: Enemy Within sees an all new resource added to the game: Meld. Meld comes in canisters and adds active resource recovery to the game. Meld is used to upgrade your units and technology. As in previous XCOM games, you steal the alien technology and make it your own – in this one, it goes to the next level as you can use alien DNA to modify your troops.

However, Meld canisters self-destruct after a set number of turns, or can be destroyed by enemy fire if you take cover behind the canister. This means that players will have to take risks in order to send someone to go get it. Of course, by sending troops out in a hurry, you might attract more aliens or split your squad. While Meld offers great rewards, it also counter-balances the conservative game play that many adopt while playing XCOM.

I pointed out that it might be so sad or frustrating if you lose some of your men while trying to get the Meld, especially if you’re unsuccessful. I just loved the response:

“XCOM is all about broken dreams”

Yay! I’m so happy that a game is being made that doesn’t cater to the screaming, whining masses. Let it be hard, let it be risky – it makes the payoff so much more worthwhile!

New Classes and Weapons

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New classes and enemy types are revealed in XCOM: Enemy Within. The main change are the Mechtroopers, because what the game was really missing was mecha. But it’s not just your characters who go mecha (and get all new guns!), the Sectoids do, too. Yup, we will see Mechtoids (sections wearing cyber suits) in the expansion. There will also be all new grenade types and utility items, including an all new Needle Grenade which has a big blast area, but does something special when it comes to cover.

Multiplayer, Language and Art

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To start with, the guys were quick to say that the number of maps supported for multiplayer has doubled. So, lots more to choose from! Also, XCOM: Enemy Within will support offline squad editing. This means less wait time or stress when jumping into a multiplayer match – your squad can already be selected and ready when you go into battle. No more getting shouted at to hurry up so we can play.

Languages are also more important in this game. Previously, all the soldiers sounded like they were from the country of your install language. So, if you had an English install, all the soldiers spoke with American accents regardless of where they were from, and the same goes for the French and Spanish versions. Firaxis wanted to give a more international vibe to the game, so they are using the localized voices for the various regions. This means your Russian soldier will actually speak Russian.

Voice acting was important in this expansion, and apparently there was a voice actor that they got who they were excited about. Couldn’t tell me more, but I’m sure we’ll get a cool trailer or reveal soon. Mechtroopers will get new voices, too, which should add a nice touch to the game.

Additionally, while they were focused on maintaining art continuity, we can expect more from this expansion. In particular, they addressed the player critique that the UFOs only seemed to crash out in the countryside. Now we will be seeing maps with UFOs crashed into cities.

Release, Secrets and Future Prospects

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XCOM: Enemy Within will be released on 15 November on PC and consoles. For PC, you will need the original game (XCOM: Enemy Unknown) and it will be distributed through Steam. For console, they will release the Commander Edition, complete with all the DLCs.
 
Be prepared for some cool images and videos to appear once the game is released. Apparently, there are a bunch of Easter Eggs hidden throughout the expansion, with some particular references to old-school XCOM and the newly released The Bureau: XCOM Declassified. So, keep your eyes peeled!
 
I asked about the current flood of XCOM games – after such a long period of silence in the franchise, we’re getting 3 games in such a short space of time. I was wondering if this might mean that we get more XCOM every year, like with other popular franchises. All the guys would say was

“We love XCOM. We’ll just have to see where it goes from here.”

I suppose we shall just have to wait and see. But I suspect the resurgence in popularity means that we can expect a lot more content for the XCOM franchise. Bring on the turn-based gaming!

Last Updated: August 21, 2013

43 Comments

  1. Johann

    August 21, 2013 at 10:09

    Aaw, I was hoping the DLC will be Terror from the Deep

    Reply

  2. RinceThisandbacktoreality

    August 21, 2013 at 10:16

    I am so flipping happy! YES! Just finished this game, now I have another reason (not that I need) to revisit!

    Reply

  3. Warren Ross

    August 21, 2013 at 10:19

    Awesome, have done two Ironman play-throughs (one on normal, one on classic) and this is going to be right up my alley! 🙂 Very cool.

    Reply

    • Kromas

      August 21, 2013 at 10:22

      Busy with my 2nd Ironman play through now. Just getting quite annoyed at those damn mind control sectoids.

      Reply

    • Lardus-Respect the beard

      August 21, 2013 at 10:24

      I need to start an Ironman play through. Just that I know I will hate it if my sniper has 99% chance to hit, misses and then dies! I don’t like loosing!

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief Raider of Tombs

        August 21, 2013 at 10:57

        Same man, sometimes I don’t understand odds. RIGHT next to dude, SHOTGUN, 99% and then miss.

        HOW DO YOU MISS WITH SHOTGUN POINT BLANK??????

        Reply

        • No Longer SIR Twakkus

          August 21, 2013 at 11:15

          Thats why I always upgrade double tap for my shotgun troopers. I cant stand it missing shots like that.
          Hopefully they will look into that problem

          Reply

          • Admiral Chief Raider of Tombs

            August 21, 2013 at 11:22

            Indeed, 2x ftw

  4. Lardus-Respect the beard

    August 21, 2013 at 10:23

    I am so happy that this is coming! I seriously need more XCom soon! Was even contemplating getting some of the other similar games but I will stay loyal! I want to shoot some alien SCUM!

    Reply

    • RinceThisandbacktoreality

      August 21, 2013 at 10:39

      Well said, I am stoked about this! Now Andre116 is going to have to come up with new excused to not face the wrath of Rince!

      Reply

      • Lardus-Respect the beard

        August 21, 2013 at 10:47

        Only played 2 multiplayer games (this past weekend actually) and I have a 50% ratio because I did not see the turn limit was changed from 120 to 90 seconds! Else I would be 2/2 🙁

        Reply

        • RinceThisandbacktoreality

          August 21, 2013 at 10:50

          You keep telling yourself that man 😉 I’ve played 3, well, 2 1/2, one first, lost second, and third connection broke, I would have totally won though, yeah, totally…

          Reply

          • Admiral Chief Raider of Tombs

            August 21, 2013 at 10:56

            Lol, I still need to PWN you in this. But alas, I torture you enough 😛

          • RinceThisandbacktoreality

            August 21, 2013 at 10:57

            This is true, and that pic this am was NOT fair man,—–> You
            ———— <- line

          • Admiral Chief Raider of Tombs

            August 21, 2013 at 10:57

            This one?

          • RinceThisandbacktoreality

            August 21, 2013 at 11:34

            NOOOOO!

          • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

            August 21, 2013 at 13:04

            Wait do you wear you T-shirts to work and then just unveil them whenever you need to? That’s kind of creepy…. lol!

          • Admiral Chief Raider of Tombs

            August 22, 2013 at 08:07

            I keep the pics as reminders to torment Rince

          • Admiral Chief Raider of Tombs

            August 21, 2013 at 10:58

            Or this one?

          • RinceThisandbacktoreality

            August 21, 2013 at 11:34

            NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Why must you torment me so!

          • Lardus-Respect the beard

            August 21, 2013 at 11:28

            Moved my sectoid scouts first. When I realised my time was up I hadn’t moved my two Berserkers yet and they were in range (also, 3 shooters never got a shot off). He then killed my small ones with a grenade and lifted his stupid floater to where my Berserkers couldn’t get him. I did manage to wipe his team except for that stupid floater who picked off my poor Berserkers. Had he not changed the limit, I would have won guaranteed! Could hear the bastard laughing while shooting me like a Persian coward…

  5. Lardus-Respect the beard

    August 21, 2013 at 10:35

    Please please please tell me we can expand the size of our Skyranger so we can field at least two more troops! Also, I would like to set up squad lists, so I can easily select my “recon” list or my “assault” list rather that having to edit it manually each deployment!

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief Raider of Tombs

      August 21, 2013 at 10:43

      Seconded

      Reply

  6. Admiral Chief Raider of Tombs

    August 21, 2013 at 10:43

    WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT

    Reply

  7. Admiral Chief Raider of Tombs

    August 21, 2013 at 10:44

    Turn based gaming FTW!!!

    Reply

  8. ElNicko

    August 21, 2013 at 10:45

    nnnnooooo , Not another game coming out this year……I really need to find more time for gaming.

    Reply

  9. Admiral Chief Raider of Tombs

    August 21, 2013 at 10:46

    Mechtroopers? They never asked for this…

    Reply

    • HvR

      August 21, 2013 at 11:08

      Xcom meets Starship troopers. FTW!

      EDIT: hope you rip a sectoids head off if he gets to close to your mechtrooper.

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief Raider of Tombs

        August 22, 2013 at 08:10

        That would be epic!

        Reply

  10. Admiral Chief Raider of Tombs

    August 21, 2013 at 10:47

    Screw everything else, I WANT THIS MOST!!!

    Reply

    • RinceThisandbacktoreality

      August 21, 2013 at 10:47

      Me too! Too many games, need another job…

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief Raider of Tombs

        August 21, 2013 at 10:56

        My goosebumps have goosebumps!!!!

        Reply

    • Lardus-Respect the beard

      August 21, 2013 at 10:48

      Darnit, not on Steam to pre-order yet 🙁

      Reply

    • Lardus-Respect the beard

      August 21, 2013 at 13:50

      I think I will upgrade my PC so I can see this in its FULL glory! MY PC is so old…

      Reply

  11. VinTaco

    August 21, 2013 at 10:58

    The “Commander Edition”, does that include the base game, expansion, and all DLC?

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief Raider of Tombs

      August 21, 2013 at 11:00

      I think so, yes

      Reply

    • jGLZA

      August 21, 2013 at 11:02

      That’s certainly what it sounds like.

      Reply

    • Her Highness the Hipster

      August 21, 2013 at 11:54

      yes indeedy 🙂

      Reply

  12. Johann

    August 21, 2013 at 11:03

    I have hoped that they would make a “Terror from the Deep” expansion for this. I enjoyed TftD more than Enemy Unknown.

    Reply

  13. jGLZA

    August 21, 2013 at 11:07

    So… what do console people that already have Enemy Unknown do? Do we have to buy the Commander Edition or can we upgrade online like with SSFIV:AE?

    Reply

  14. WernerE

    August 21, 2013 at 11:34

    YES! YES! I’m very excited about this!

    Reply

  15. Nicholas Rowan

    August 21, 2013 at 11:39

    Awwwwwwwww yeah!

    Reply

  16. iheijoushin

    August 21, 2013 at 22:01

    This is almost everything I wanted (and then some). But I’m still really, really missing randomly generated maps.

    Reply

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