Tag: Firaxis Games

  • Top Tactical Strategy Game with 88 Metascore Now 95% Off on Steam

    Top Tactical Strategy Game with 88 Metascore Now 95% Off on Steam

    Key Takeaways

    1. Significant Discount: XCOM 2 is currently available for $2.99, down from its regular price of $59.99, as part of a 2K publisher sale ending on February 19, 2025.

    2. Game Background: The game, created by Firaxis Games, is set 20 years after XCOM: Enemy Unknown, where players must rebuild XCOM to fight against alien control.

    3. Player Experience: XCOM 2 has received mixed feedback, with some players finding the start challenging and the later stages easier; it offers four difficulty settings for customization.

    4. Positive Reception: The game has been well-received, winning IGN’s Best Strategy Game of the Year and holding an 88 Metascore on Metacritic, with 84% of over 106,000 Steam reviews being favorable.

    5. DLC Discounts: While XCOM 2 is heavily discounted, its gameplay is enhanced by downloadable content like XCOM 2: War of the Chosen, which is also on sale for $3.99 at a 90% discount.

    XCOM 2 is now being offered at a significant discount on Steam, dropping to just $2.99 from its standard cost of $59.99. This pricing is part of the active 2K publisher sale, which features a variety of titles from the same publisher. The promotion is set to conclude on February 19, 2025.

    Game Overview

    Created by Firaxis Games and released by 2K, XCOM 2 launched in 2016 as a tactical strategy game that requires players to think carefully. The story takes place 20 years after its predecessor, XCOM: Enemy Unknown, during a time when Earth is under alien control.

    Players are challenged to rebuild the damaged XCOM forces to fight back against the oppressive ADVENT regime. They can recruit soldiers from five unique classes, each featuring its own skill tree for character growth. Besides combat, players also manage the Avenger, an alien ship that XCOM has captured and modified for their use.

    Player Feedback

    XCOM 2 has faced some critique from GameStar, which mentioned that the game’s beginning can be quite tough and potentially frustrating, while the later stages can become overly simple after numerous upgrades. The game does provide four difficulty settings, enabling players to customize their gaming experience according to their preferences.

    Upon its release, XCOM 2 received positive acclaim, earning the IGN Best Strategy Game of the Year award. It has amassed over 106,000 reviews on Steam, with 84% of them being favorable. On Metacritic, it holds a Metascore of 88. The game is also rated as Playable on Steam Deck and offers full support for five languages (interface, audio, and subtitles), along with partial support for an additional six (interface and subtitles).

    Additional Discounts

    Although a 95% discount for XCOM 2 is remarkable, it’s essential to recognize that this title often sees such price drops. Furthermore, a significant portion of its gameplay experience is linked to downloadable content, especially the notable XCOM 2: War of the Chosen, which is currently available for $3.99 at a 90% discount. Other DLCs are also discounted.

    You can purchase the 8BitDo Ultimate 2C wireless controller on Amazon.

    Disclaimer: Notebookcheck does not take responsibility for price adjustments made by retailers. The discounted price or deal mentioned here was accurate at the time of writing and may be subject to time limits and/or limited stock.

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  • Firaxis Games Faces Layoffs Amid Civilization 7 Development

    Firaxis Games Faces Layoffs Amid Civilization 7 Development

    Key Takeaways

    1. Firaxis Games experienced layoffs in September 2025, confirming job reductions due to restructuring and optimization efforts by publisher 2K.
    2. Notable staff members affected by the layoffs include senior quality assurance tester Logan Blackwood and lead character artist Matthew Davis, who shared their experiences publicly.
    3. Firaxis employees, including writers, are actively seeking new job opportunities in the gaming industry following the layoffs.
    4. The layoffs come after the mixed reception of Civilization VII, which faced criticism for its user interface and the New Ages system, resulting in a low Steam rating.
    5. Despite critical acclaim for Marvel’s Midnight Suns, the game was deemed a commercial failure, which may have contributed to the difficulties and restructuring at Firaxis.

    The developer known for creating the Civilization series, XCOM, and Marvel’s Midnight Suns, Firaxis Games, has faced another round of layoffs in September 2025. This adds to the trend of job reductions that are sweeping through the gaming industry.

    Confirmation of Layoffs

    Publisher 2K has officially confirmed the layoffs at Firaxis Games. However, the exact number of staff members who lost their jobs is still unclear. The first reports about the layoffs emerged from social media posts made by affected employees.

    Notable staff members, including senior quality assurance tester Logan Blackwood, lead character artist Matthew Davis, producer Maya H., and artist Daniella Zeman, shared their experiences of job loss online.

    Job Seekers Emerge

    A writer from Firaxis announced on LinkedIn:

    “I am one of the layoffs at Firaxis, and I am looking for full-time writing positions at other studios. I’m a very flexible writer who contributed to Civilization VII and Marvel’s Midnight Suns during my nearly five years at the company. I urge you to consider my former coworkers who were also let go.”

    A spokesperson from 2K confirmed the job reductions to Rock Paper Shotgun, stating:

    “We can confirm there was a staff reduction today at Firaxis Games, as the studio restructures and optimizes its development process for adaptability, collaboration, and creativity.”

    Challenges Post-Release

    These layoffs follow a challenging time for Firaxis, especially after the launch of Civilization VII in February 2025, which received mixed reviews from both players and critics.

    The game’s user interface and the controversial New Ages system were particularly criticized. According to SteamDB, Civilization VII has a Mixed user score, with a Steam rating of 47.30%, indicating that 24,643 out of 46,667 reviews were negative.

    Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick acknowledged the difficulties faced by Civilization VII at its launch, stating that such issues are common for the series. Despite Firaxis’s attempts to enhance the game based on community feedback, including adding new content, it continues to perform poorly, likely influencing the recent restructuring.

    Marvel’s Midnight Suns, which was released in 2022, garnered a Very Positive rating on Steam, with 81.4% positive reviews. However, despite its critical success, it was considered a commercial failure, as it did not meet sales expectations, which was attributed to a complicated DLC structure and an unfortunate release window.

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  • Beloved Strategy Game Sale: Only $6, Down from $60 on Steam & Epic

    Beloved Strategy Game Sale: Only $6, Down from $60 on Steam & Epic

    Key Takeaways

    1. Gameplay Overview: Players select a historical nation and guide their civilization from the Stone Age in 4000 BC through various paths like diplomacy, science, culture, religion, or warfare to achieve global dominance.

    2. New District System: The introduction of the “District” system allows cities to expand across multiple tiles, adding strategic depth as each district specializes in different areas like science, military, or culture.

    3. Mixed Reviews: While praised for its scope and strategic depth, critiques focus on unpredictable AI behavior, navigation challenges in crowded maps, and the absence of certain quality-of-life features.

    4. Positive Reception: The game received an 87/100 from GameStar, with over 250,000 players on Steam giving it an 86% favorable rating and a Metascore of 88 on Metacritic.

    5. Current Pricing: Civilization VI is typically $60 but is currently on sale for $6 due to a 90% discount on Steam and the Epic Games Store, with additional costs for expansions and DLCs.

    Sid Meier’s Civilization VI, created by Firaxis Games and launched by 2K in 2016, marks the sixth main installment in the beloved strategy series. Players select a historical nation, such as Imperial China, the Roman Empire, or the Kingdom of Nubia, and guide their civilization across thousands of years. Regardless of the nation chosen, the adventure always kicks off in the Stone Age, specifically in the year 4000 BC.

    Beginning the Journey

    At the outset, players start with merely one settler unit and a warrior for basic defense purposes. The map is largely concealed by the fog of war, making the initial task to explore the area and find an ideal location to build the capital. After establishing the city, the slow yet steady journey through history unfolds. Players investigate early technologies like animal husbandry, pottery, and mining, gradually unlocking buildings, units, and upgrades along the way. As the game advances, players can choose their path through diplomacy, science, culture, religion, or warfare. The ultimate aim is global dominance—achieved through alliances, innovation, influence, faith, or military force.

    New Features and Mechanics

    A fresh addition in Civ VI is the “District” system, which allows cities to extend across multiple tiles for the first time. Each district specializes in a certain area, like science, military, religion, or culture, and is constructed as an individual part of the city on its own tile. This makes city placement more significant compared to earlier titles, adding a strategic layer to the gameplay. The mechanics of research and culture have also seen changes: specific actions and terrain types can speed up advancement, providing more variety and excitement in the gameplay.

    Critiques and Praise

    In its review, German publication GameStar commended Civilization VI for its grand scope and strategic depth, particularly praising the new district system. Nonetheless, the review highlighted some flaws, especially regarding the AI, which tends to act unpredictably during combat or city defense. The game’s clarity can falter in large matches, as crowded maps filled with numerous units can quickly become hard to navigate. Some quality-of-life features are also absent, like a production queue or the ability to rename cities. For beginners, the complexity of the mechanics might feel a bit daunting initially.

    Despite these critiques, Civilization VI received a solid score of 87 out of 100 from GameStar. Reviews on major platforms reflect a similarly positive outlook. On Steam, over 250,000 players have given feedback, with 86% rating the game favorably. On Metacritic, it boasts a Metascore of 88 and a User Score of 7.1.

    Pricing and Discounts

    On Steam, Civilization VI’s standard price is $60. However, at the moment, a huge 90% discount is available until April 7, lowering the price to just $6. This deal is also present on the Epic Games Store, lasting until April 9. It’s important to note that Civ VI has a diverse array of expansions and DLCs, so if you want the complete experience, be ready to invest a little more.

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  • Fanatical: Get Strategy Hit for €2.50 – 95% Off Today!

    Fanatical: Get Strategy Hit for €2.50 – 95% Off Today!

    Key Takeaways

    1. Tactical Gameplay: XCOM 2 features strategic turn-based combat where player decisions directly impact the outcome, with a permadeath system for soldiers.

    2. Squad Management: Players manage teams of up to six soldiers from five distinct classes, each with unique abilities and progression up to level seven.

    3. Critical Reception: The game received praise for its thrilling combat and immersive world, earning an 88 score from GameStar, but faced criticism for menu navigation and difficulty balance.

    4. Sales and Discounts: XCOM 2 is currently available at a significant discount on Fanatical, with the base game priced under €2.50 and the complete collection for about €7.

    5. Region Restrictions: Steam keys purchased from Fanatical may have regional restrictions, and users should verify compatibility on the Fanatical website.

    In XCOM 2, the alien force known as ADVENT has taken over Earth. As the head of the resistance, players are tasked with rebuilding the secret XCOM organization, bringing in new soldiers, and fighting back against the invaders. To save humanity, players engage in tactical turn-based combat where every choice counts – a single mistake could lead to the death of a seasoned soldier and diminish the resistance’s strength. The game features a permadeath system that requires players to replace lost soldiers with new recruits. The battles are well-regarded for their strategic complexity and intense atmosphere.

    Squad Management and Classes

    Players can control teams of up to six soldiers, each belonging to one of five distinct classes. Among these are the ranger, who excels in close combat, the tech-savvy specialist, and the lethal sniper. Soldiers can advance to level seven, earning new abilities at each tier. When not in battle, players oversee their squads and enhance their base, unlocking superior equipment and broader recruitment options.

    Critical Reception and Feedback

    The German gaming publication GameStar commended XCOM 2 for its thrilling combat, strategic intricacies, and immersive dystopian world. However, it pointed out issues like the clunky menu navigation and uneven difficulty levels. Early in the game, tight time limits can lead to frustrating missions, while later on, more powerful soldiers and improved gear might make the gameplay feel overly simplistic. In spite of this, the game’s strengths outweigh its weaknesses, resulting in a favorable score of 88 from GameStar.

    Created by Firaxis Games and released by 2K, XCOM 2 debuted in February 2016. It has since garnered over 70,000 reviews on Steam, with 84% being positive. This trend continues on Metacritic, where the game boasts a Metascore of 84, while the user score is a bit lower at 7.4.

    Special Offers and Pricing

    On Fanatical, XCOM 2 typically retails for about €50, but until March 24, it is offered at a remarkable 95% discount, bringing the price down to under €2.50. The XCOM 2 Collection, which contains the base game, the War of the Chosen expansion, and five smaller DLCs, is available at a 93% discount – reducing its price from €90 to roughly €7. Fanatical is a licensed seller, and customers receive a game key that can be activated on Steam. This deal is limited to Europe.

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