Although Firaxis’ game is available for consoles, they announced XCOM 2‘s upcoming expansion during PC Gaming Show.

Quoting their website: „XCOM 2: War of the Chosen adds extensive new content in the fight against ADVENT when additional resistance factions form to eliminate the alien threat on Earth. In response, a new enemy, known as the “Chosen,” emerges with one goal: recapture the Commander. The expansion includes new Hero classes to counter the “Chosen,” new enemies, missions, environments and increased depth in strategic gameplay.

New Factions and Hero Classes: Three additional factions have emerged to strengthen Earth’s resistance – the Reapers, Skirmishers, and Templars – each with its unique abilities and contrasting philosophies. These factions provide powerful hero class soldiers to aid in missions and new opportunities for the strategy layer.

The Chosen: The Chosen are the most cunning enemies XCOM has ever faced, each with unique strengths and weaknesses that will be introduced with each new campaign. The Chosen are on the hunt for the Commander and will kidnap, interrogate, and kill XCOM’s soldiers to complete their objective. The Chosen can also invade the strategy layer and ravage XCOM’s global operations. Find and raid the Chosen’s strongholds to defeat the enemy for good.

New Alien and Advent Threats: A deadly new alien known as the Spectre, capable of creating dark copies of XCOM soldiers, has snuck onto the battlefield. Adopt new tactics to counter it as well as the explosive attacks of the ADVENT Purifier and the psionically charged ADVENT Priest.

New Environment and Mission Objectives: Engage in tactical missions across new environments from abandoned cities devastated by alien bioweapons during the original invasion, to underground tunnels and xenoformed wilderness regions.

Enhanced Strategy Layer: Manage XCOM’s relations with factions and counter The Chosen’s operations from the Avenger. Employ new Resistance Orders to prioritize your strategy. Soldiers, scientists, and engineers can now be deployed for Covert Actions that award supplies and boost faction favor if completed.

Greater Customization and Replayability: Soldiers can develop bonds with compatible teammates for new abilities and perks. The SITREP system dynamically adds new modifiers to the tactical layer to make sure every mission provides a unique challenge. Advanced campaign options allow for finer adjustments to game length and difficulty.

Challenge Mode: Utilize the perfect strategy in new regular one-shot community challenges to claim the top spot on the global leaderboard.”

XCOM 2: War of the Chosen will be available from August 29 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC – the same day as Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, which we jokingly call XCOM Mario. Coincidence?