XCOM Now The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, a TPS Due in August

2K Games announces the promised "fresh look at the long-awaited squad-based tactical shooter in development at 2K Marin" with the announcement that the first-person shooter formerly known as XCOM is being rebranded as a third-person shooter called The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, saying the game will be released on August 20th in North America and August 23rd in other territories, with preorders are already underway. This rebranding was tipped by some new domains spotted a couple of months ago, and suspicions such a move was coming were reinforced when the game's website recently went missing, but as recently indicated, they are not severing ties with the XCOM universe. The switch to a third-person perspective was also tipped last year, and is touched upon in an interview on games.on.net, where 2K Marin creative director Morgan Gray talks about the project and these changes. The game's new website is online, here is some concept art and a live-action trailer, and here's word:
Windsor, UK – April 26, 2013 – 2K and 2K Marin, makers of BioShock® 2, announced today that The Bureau: XCOM Declassified will be released on August 20, 2013 in North America and August 23, 2013 internationally on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Windows PC. XCOM: Enemy Unknown, developed by Firaxis Games, dazzled turn-based strategy fans and rebooted the classic franchise. Now The Bureau will deliver a new experience within the XCOM universe.

Set in 1962 at the height of the Cold War, The Bureau tells the origin story of the clandestine XCOM organisation’s first encounter with a mysterious and devastating enemy. Originally established as America’s covert defense against the Soviet Union, The Bureau must adapt and overcome a threat unlike anything the world has faced before. As special agent William Carter, players will call the shots and pull the trigger, leading their squad of agents in the high-stakes secret war for humanity’s survival. Paramount to repelling the outside threat is The Bureau’s ability to cover-up the enemy’s existence in order to prevent worldwide panic.

“We’re thrilled about 2K Marin’s refined vision for The Bureau: XCOM Declassified,” said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. “The game has evolved through a creative and iterative development process, and the result is a narrative-driven experience that is smart, engaging, and challenges players to think tactically.”

“The Bureau tells the story of XCOM’s mysterious beginnings,” said Morgan Gray, creative director at 2K Marin. “We’re expanding the universe with a declassified tale of government conspiracy and heroic cover-ups told through third-person tactical gameplay.”

In the spirit of the XCOM franchise, The Bureau’s calculated combat design requires players to think and act tactically. The game’s third-person perspective gives the player a sense of spatial awareness and grants them the freedom to transition in and out Carter’s unique Battle Focus ability seamlessly – heightening the tactical shooter action. The Bureau also fully embraces the concept of permanent consequence. As our last line of defense, every command can mean the difference between life and death for Carter, his squad and mankind.

“The team has been working hard to leverage core XCOM elements like tactical decision-making and permanent death of squad mates in a purposeful way that makes this a unique tactical shooter,” added Gray. “To that end, The Bureau will challenge players unlike any other third-person tactical shooter.”

The Bureau: XCOM Declassified can be pre-ordered today at all participating retailers. Those who pre-order will receive the Codebreakers side-mission as a bonus. In this special campaign side-mission, a communications facility responsible for intercepting and interpreting the enemy’s transmissions has gone dark. Special Agent Carter and his squad must make contact with any remaining personnel and investigate the incident.

The Bureau: XCOM Declassified is not yet rated by PEGI. For more information, please visit Facebook, or the official web site: http://erasethetruth.com.

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43 Replies. 3 pages. Viewing page 1.
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43.
 
Re: XCOM Now The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, a TPS Due in August
Apr 27, 2013, 10:58
43.
Re: XCOM Now The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, a TPS Due in August Apr 27, 2013, 10:58
Apr 27, 2013, 10:58
 
Jerykk wrote on Apr 27, 2013, 00:16:
nin wrote on Apr 26, 2013, 23:05:
Geez, most of you guys are so negative.

Again, when a game is totally redesigned after being in development for years...that's not a good sign.


I don't think it's been totally redesigned. They changed camera perspectives and updated the art but it's still a squad-based shooter where you fight aliens based on black oil and geometric shapes. The first iteration already seemed like a first-person Mass Effect. The new camera just makes it seem even more like ME.

it was more than that. the original iteration had no research, no mission selection, etc. it was just a straight up on-rails shooter. they didn't start implementing the cool stuff until they heard the uproar from fans that everybody but them saw coming.
42.
 
Re: XCOM Now The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, a TPS Due in August
Apr 27, 2013, 09:43
42.
Re: XCOM Now The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, a TPS Due in August Apr 27, 2013, 09:43
Apr 27, 2013, 09:43
 
They shoulda went the Republic Commando way at the very least. Also if they just ditched the xcom name entirely and called it Bureau i think its reception would be a lot better received.
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41.
 
Re: XCOM Now The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, a TPS Due in August
Apr 27, 2013, 07:57
41.
Re: XCOM Now The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, a TPS Due in August Apr 27, 2013, 07:57
Apr 27, 2013, 07:57
 
Tanto Edge wrote on Apr 27, 2013, 00:55:
Well; the cinematics are fucking sweet.

Yeah, they should make a movie!
Avatar 571
40.
 
Re: XCOM Now The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, a TPS Due in August
Apr 27, 2013, 00:55
40.
Re: XCOM Now The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, a TPS Due in August Apr 27, 2013, 00:55
Apr 27, 2013, 00:55
39.
 
Re: XCOM Now The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, a TPS Due in August
Apr 27, 2013, 00:16
39.
Re: XCOM Now The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, a TPS Due in August Apr 27, 2013, 00:16
Apr 27, 2013, 00:16
 
nin wrote on Apr 26, 2013, 23:05:
Geez, most of you guys are so negative.

Again, when a game is totally redesigned after being in development for years...that's not a good sign.


I don't think it's been totally redesigned. They changed camera perspectives and updated the art but it's still a squad-based shooter where you fight aliens based on black oil and geometric shapes. The first iteration already seemed like a first-person Mass Effect. The new camera just makes it seem even more like ME.
Avatar 20715
38.
 
Re: XCOM Now The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, a TPS Due in August
Apr 26, 2013, 23:46
Prez
 
38.
Re: XCOM Now The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, a TPS Due in August Apr 26, 2013, 23:46
Apr 26, 2013, 23:46
 Prez
 
nin wrote on Apr 26, 2013, 23:05:
Geez, most of you guys are so negative.

Again, when a game is totally redesigned after being in development for years...that's not a good sign.


Not necessarily - look at how Duke Nukem Forever turned out! Oh wait... you hated that one. Never mind!
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
- Mahatma Gandhi
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37.
 
Re: XCOM Now The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, a TPS Due in August
Apr 26, 2013, 23:05
nin
37.
Re: XCOM Now The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, a TPS Due in August Apr 26, 2013, 23:05
Apr 26, 2013, 23:05
nin
 
Geez, most of you guys are so negative.

Again, when a game is totally redesigned after being in development for years...that's not a good sign.

36.
 
Re: XCOM Now The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, a TPS Due in August
Apr 26, 2013, 22:39
36.
Re: XCOM Now The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, a TPS Due in August Apr 26, 2013, 22:39
Apr 26, 2013, 22:39
 
Geez, most of you guys are so negative. I for one am looking forward to it. Regardless of whether its branded an XCOM game or not, the setting, ideas and what I saw of the gameplay actually looked pretty good.

Hopefully this can lead to a branching off of XCOM so they still make the turn-based-strategy ones (which I'm a fan of as well) as well as the more action oriented real-time-shooter ones like this.
"I hope those bastards get inoperable brain cancer that they have passed on to their children."
-RedEye9
35.
 
Re: XCOM Now The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, a TPS Due in August
Apr 26, 2013, 22:13
Prez
 
35.
Re: XCOM Now The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, a TPS Due in August Apr 26, 2013, 22:13
Apr 26, 2013, 22:13
 Prez
 
I have to admit that for how down on this concept I was when it was first revealed, I give this rebranding top marks across the board. I like the live action trailer, I like the setting and atmosphere, I like the move to 3rd-person... hell, I even like how they moved the "XCOM" to after the hyphen indicating this is its own game with only a loose attachment to XCOM. To me that's perfect.

This game could still end up being an epic disaster but considering how I thought this project was all but dead and a lost cause, this new reveal has basically done the impossible: it has gotten me interested in this game for the first time. That makes it a big win in my book. Now to keep it going they really need to release some gameplay shots or trailers fast, especially since the release date is relatively close.

EDIT:
Bumpy wrote on Apr 26, 2013, 18:54:
This thread makes me depressed.

Need some Prozac? I've got plenty.
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
- Mahatma Gandhi
Avatar 17185
34.
 
Re: XCOM Now The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, a TPS Due in August
Apr 26, 2013, 20:45
34.
Re: XCOM Now The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, a TPS Due in August Apr 26, 2013, 20:45
Apr 26, 2013, 20:45
 
What I don't understand is why people were MORE interested in this as a first-person shooter. We already have plenty enough quality FPS games and it's pretty hard for games to distinguish themselves nowadays. Personally I'm more interested in it as a third-person shooter. If they can get a Mafia II style vibe with an alien twist then that sounds good to me.

That said, I really want to see some gameplay walkthroughs before I even consider this. I loved XCOM:EU but despite the decent trailer I haven't seen anything to warrant any confidence in it. Bioshock 2 was a pretty weak game and this title has already been significantly delayed. It would be nice if this were a decent game.
"The price of freedom is eternal vigilance."
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33.
 
Re: XCOM Now The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, a TPS Due in August
Apr 26, 2013, 19:21
33.
Re: XCOM Now The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, a TPS Due in August Apr 26, 2013, 19:21
Apr 26, 2013, 19:21
 
Ima take a wait and see approach on this.
"The horse I bet on was so slow, the jockey kept a diary of the trip." - Henny Youngman
32.
 
Re: XCOM Now The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, a TPS Due in August
Apr 26, 2013, 18:54
32.
Re: XCOM Now The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, a TPS Due in August Apr 26, 2013, 18:54
Apr 26, 2013, 18:54
 
This thread makes me depressed.
31.
 
Re: XCOM Now The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, a TPS Due in August
Apr 26, 2013, 18:16
31.
Re: XCOM Now The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, a TPS Due in August Apr 26, 2013, 18:16
Apr 26, 2013, 18:16
 
Marvin T. Martian wrote on Apr 26, 2013, 17:01:
Like others have said--changing it from 1st person to 3rd has moved it to being interested to don't care.and what Verno said--The original RB6 and Ghost Recon---miss them too!

Raven Shield was so awesome. I need to reinstall.
If Russia stops fighting, the war ends. If Ukraine stops fighting, Ukraine ends. Slava Ukraini!
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30.
 
Re: XCOM Now The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, a TPS Due in August
Apr 26, 2013, 17:41
30.
Re: XCOM Now The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, a TPS Due in August Apr 26, 2013, 17:41
Apr 26, 2013, 17:41
 
RB6 XCOM does sound awesome.

But Freedom Fighters was underrated, so Freedom Fighters XCOM would make me happy.
29.
 
Re: XCOM Now The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, a TPS Due in August
Apr 26, 2013, 17:01
29.
Re: XCOM Now The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, a TPS Due in August Apr 26, 2013, 17:01
Apr 26, 2013, 17:01
 
Like others have said--changing it from 1st person to 3rd has moved it to being interested to don't care.and what Verno said--The original RB6 and Ghost Recon---miss them too!
Avatar 1746
28.
 
Re: XCOM Now The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, a TPS Due in August
Apr 26, 2013, 16:30
28.
Re: XCOM Now The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, a TPS Due in August Apr 26, 2013, 16:30
Apr 26, 2013, 16:30
 
Fuck I miss old school R6 and Ghost Recon

I hope something comes of that Takedown game.
Avatar 51617
27.
 
Re: XCOM Now The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, a TPS Due in August
Apr 26, 2013, 16:27
27.
Re: XCOM Now The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, a TPS Due in August Apr 26, 2013, 16:27
Apr 26, 2013, 16:27
 
Jivaro wrote on Apr 26, 2013, 16:12:
It's like they read all the complaints...agreed to take it back to the drawing board....

...and then completely ignored everything every X-COM fan said.

Rainbow Six: X-COM?

It might be good, but for the second time in a week I find myself asking the same question. "The fans wanted this?" Good luck to them, I am skeptical that this will appeal to shooter fans or X-Com fans. Particularly at a "AAA" price point.

If it actually *was* the original Rainbow Six only X-Com style it'd be rather badass.

Mission scenario would be fairly structured, but probably could go something like this:

Alien invasion report- Very few details, you have to pick from large equipment packages and among your men based on limited intel (which gets better as you research more.)

En Route for deployment- You get tactical schematics/photos/drawings on a napkin of the area, initial telemetry of enemy, identifying primary, secondary, and tertiary objectives (target types equal civilian protection, high value individual protection, gathering research items, alien capture/containment, bug hunt, assassination of a high value target, destruction of alien equipment, etc...) The idea being you can't do it all, and have to decide what is most important right now for both the organization and for the world long term.

On Site- Pre-Deployment- Surveillance has occurred for some time, establishing an idea of enemy count, patrol zones, hostages, trapped civilians, etc... Relevant data is reflective of what you decided your objectives are.

Execute- While the game would probably be one team due to console-itus, I'd dig mapping waypoints and breach missions for 2-3 teams simultaneously, as in the original Rainbow Six, especially as the game ramped up.

Post-mission you're rewarded based on which objectives you pursued, how well you achieved them, and what the current global situation is. Throw in some stress and perhaps some HP Lovecraftian sanity mechanics and you have to cycle your men in and out of combat and you have an intense, highly strategic and tactical 3rd person squad based shooter that I'd be *all* over.
26.
 
Re: XCOM Now The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, a TPS Due in August
Apr 26, 2013, 16:23
26.
Re: XCOM Now The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, a TPS Due in August Apr 26, 2013, 16:23
Apr 26, 2013, 16:23
 
I wasn't interested in what looked like a generic fps. Now it's third person, which I like even less... I gotta say that the trailer, as a mood piece on its own, was cool.
Avatar 56211
25.
 
Re: XCOM Now The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, a TPS Due in August
Apr 26, 2013, 16:12
Jivaro
 
25.
Re: XCOM Now The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, a TPS Due in August Apr 26, 2013, 16:12
Apr 26, 2013, 16:12
 Jivaro
 
It's like they read all the complaints...agreed to take it back to the drawing board....

...and then completely ignored everything every X-COM fan said.

Rainbow Six: X-COM?

It might be good, but for the second time in a week I find myself asking the same question. "The fans wanted this?" Good luck to them, I am skeptical that this will appeal to shooter fans or X-Com fans. Particularly at a "AAA" price point.
Avatar 55841
24.
 
Re: XCOM Now The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, a TPS Due in August
Apr 26, 2013, 16:02
24.
Re: XCOM Now The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, a TPS Due in August Apr 26, 2013, 16:02
Apr 26, 2013, 16:02
 
going to suck
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