2K’s XCom shooter may end up third-person, squad-based and low-priced.
It’s easy to forget amidst all the hoopla surrounding the looming launch of the XCom remake that the “new” XCom was originally announced, well over two years ago, as a shooter. It’s floundered rather badly since then; in January it was delayed until sometime in Take-Two’s 2013 fiscal year and then in May it was pushed back again to FY2014. And now the reasons for such a lengthy delay may be coming clear, as it appears that the game may be undergoing a rather radical transformation.
Based on what is reportedly a recent marketing survey, the game is being overhauled as a third-person shooter, with the player in charge of a squad of agents in a fashion similar to Republic Commando or SOCOM. The PC version appears to be out of the picture and so does retail, as the survey suggests that the game may get a digital-only release at the $30 price point.
It’s entirely unconfirmed and 2K has refused to comment on the situation, but it wouldn’t be an unprecedented move, as Ubisoft did the same thing last year with I Am Alive. It would also be unfortunate. XCom fans weren’t thrilled with the idea of their beloved franchise being turned into a shooter but the concept was fun (and is a lot easier to swallow now that we have a “real” XCom remake in the offing) and the aesthetic was great. But nothing says “quickie cash-out” like focus-group neutering.
Source: Kotaku
