Sci-fi strategy ‘Xenonauts 2’ confirms Early Access release date with new trailer
Xenonauts 2 is launching in Early Access in July, publisher Hooded Horse has confirmed.While a 2023 release window was confirmed back in January, Hooded Horse has now specified that Xenonauts 2 will be launching in Early Access on July 18.A follow-up to 2014’s Xenonauts, Xenonauts 2 takes place in an alternate 2009 where the Cold War never ended. Against this backdrop, players control a secretive group defending Earth from an alien invasion — a challenge that involves shooting down UFOs, deploying soldiers to fight on the ground, and reverse-engineering advanced alien technology.While Xenonauts 2 will sound familiar to fans of Firaxis‘ XCOM reboot, the sequel is more of a spiritual successor to the original ’90s run of X-COM games, which are seen as more challenging and detail-oriented.https://youtu.be/Y8r4HyUpKfMAs part of Xenonauts 2‘s “in-depth strategic layer,” the game’s Steam page notes that players will need to build bases across the globe, conduct “multiple avenues of research,” and prioritise how scavenged alien technology is utilised.On the battlefield, the sequel will also introduce a new faction: Cleaners, a human group of alien sympathisers who will fight alongside the invaders and work to undermine your defences.