14 DAY TRIAL // 2K Games has been promoting a new title during the past few days but has stopped short of making an official announcement about its name and its genre, only offering a teaser site and some images that suggest a futuristic theme and a focus on genetic enhancements.
Now fans from the NeoGAF forums have thoroughly explored the material that the publisher has made public and there are solid signs that the title is related to the rebooted XCOM, with the development team at Firaxis probably working on a new installment.
There are hints in the screenshots that the coming title is somehow linked to the Apocalypse installment of the classic series.
2K Games has not said when it plans to make an official announcement about its new title, but presumably a trailer, and some basic information will arrive either before or at E3 2015.
Speculation from the fan community initially focused on a new BioShock experience, given that the Advent information talked about genetic therapy, which was linked to splicing, and about a new type of cities with enhanced security, which suggested a new location in the vein of Rapture and Columbia.
The fact that a new XCOM is in development and that it is connected to Apocalypse will probably mean that the action will take place in just one very big location.
The development team might also introduce the option for real-time combat, alongside the already familiar turn-based system.
Firaxis has managed to reboot XCOM in interesting ways
The new take on the classic series has been very well received by the community, with a lot of gamers still currently engaged with it, and some solid mods delivered since launch.
Firaxis has managed to deliver a carefully calibrated strategy experience that was challenging and managed to appeal to both new comers and to long-term fans.
A new title that uses the premise of Apocalypse will need to introduce a new race of aliens to battle as well as more options for the human soldiers.
Firaxis is at the moment working on a big naval focused expansion for Civilization: Beyond Earth, called Rising Tide, which is set to arrive this fall.
This might mean that the new XCOM will be delivered on the PC, the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4 in 2016.