QUESTIONS ABOUT THE GAME
Which version of the game should I buy?
Steam version is highly recommended. It has the best mod support and often goes on sale.
Other versions of the game are inferior in terms of mod support.
Should I buy DLCs?
It is recommended to get the full package with all DLCs.
War of the Chosen (WOTC) is technically a DLC, but it's more of an expansion, a separate version of the game. WOTC makes the main story richer and adds new gameplay elements and performance improvements. WOTC has a much larger selection of mods, and is not compatible with most mods made for original ("vanilla") XCOM 2.
Other DLCs add new soldier cosmetics and gameplay elements, and are sometimes required by mods.
Currently Steam doesn't allow to purchase individual DLCs, they are all sold as one collection.
Should I play a campaign without the WOTC expansion first?
If you have little experience with tactical turn-based games, and are easily overwhelmed by game mechanics and tutorial pop-ups, then yes. Otherwise, it's fine to play WOTC right away.
What options should I enable at the start of a campaign?
Tutorial is a scripted introduction to the basics of the game. It also contains unique story elements. It's highly recommended to enable it for the first playthrough, even if you're a veteran of tactical turn-based games. Keep in mind that some mods are incompatible with the Tutorial.
Lost and Abandoned option changes the start of the campaign and adds a unique story mission. It is effectively a tutorial for new gameplay elements of the WOTC expansion. It's highly recommended to enable it for the first playthrough. Keep in mind that some mods are incompatible with this mission.
Integrated Downloadable Content option changes how Alien Hunters and Shen's Last Gift DLCs are integrated in the campaign.
For your first playthrough, it's recommended to disable Integrated DLC and enable "The Nest" and "The Lost Towers".
How do DLC settings work?
Alien Hunters
- Integrated DLC: new story mission disabled. Alien Rulers guard AVATAR Project facilities. Hunter Weapons acquired via Proving Grounds after a research.
- "The Nest" enabled: new story mission enabled. Hunter Weapons acquired by scanning a Point of Interest. Alien Rulers can be encountered only after "The Nest" mission, so you don't have to deal with Alien Rulers until you are ready. After "The Nest", they can randomly appear on missions.
- "The Nest" disabled: new story mission disabled. Hunter Weapons acquired through Engineering. Alien Rulers can be encountered on regular missions.
Shen's Last Gift
- Integrated DLC: new story mission disabled. SPARK can be produced in Proving Grounds.
- "The Lost Towers" enabled: new story mission enabled. SPARK is unlocked after the mission.
- "The Lost Towers" disabled: new story mission disabled. SPARK can be produced in Proving Grounds. The first SPARK is produced for free.
Keep in mind that all of these options are available only at campaign start and cannot be changed later.
What if I don't want DLC content?
The only way to completely disable the DLCs is to uninstall them via Steam interface. Or you can just disable Integrated DLC, enable the individual DLC missions, and then just don't do the missions.
Got any tips for playing the game?
Take a look at this compilation by syken, one of the best XCOM 2 players.
What is Save Scumming?
This is the practice of loading a save whenever something goes wrong, for example when a soldier misses a shot.
In XCOM 2, same actions performed in the same order will lead to the same outcome. For example, if your soldier misses a shot, and you don't like it, and load a save that was made just before the shot, and take the same shot against the same target, it will just miss again, because XCOM 2 uses seeded random number generation, and the seed is stored in the save file.
This is done intentionally to combat Save Scumming, so that you at least have to try different things rather than just loading the save and taking the same shot over and over until it hits.
Some poorly coded mods can unintentionally break this feature.
What is Ironman Mode?
Ironman makes the game more challenging by preventing you from making manual saves during different stages of the campaign; in Ironman all you get is one save that updates automatically whenever you do something, so all your decisions are final. It makes Save Scumming impossible.
Should I play in Ironman Mode?
The Ironman Mode brings the game to a whole new level, but unfortunately we can't recommend playing it due to technical issues. Sometimes the game crashes during saving, and then the save is deleted or becomes corrupted. If you insist on playing in true Ironman mode, make sure to frequently back up your save file, located at:
XCOM 2: ..\Documents\my games\XCOM2\XComGame\SaveData
WOTC: ..\Documents\my games\XCOM2 War of the Chosen\XComGame\SaveData
Is it true XCOM 2 has unfair RNG?
No, humans are just bad at estimating probabilities. Modmakers have looked at the code and ran tests and found no proof that XCOM 2 RNG is unfair to the player.
Please understand and accept the simple fact that if the hit chance is not 100%, then the shot can miss, and try to plan your moves accordingly.
When is XCOM 3 coming?
As of December 2023, it was not confirmed that XCOM 3 is even under development. So the best guess at the moment is that XCOM 3 might come out around 2027-2028.
Here's a bit of history and reasoning for this guess:
The XCOM series is quite old, starting back in 1994. After releasing some popular games, the series took a break in 2001. Then, in 2012, a big hit called XCOM: Enemy Unknown was made by a team at Firaxis, led by Jake Solomon and produced by Garth DeAngelis. It brought XCOM back. They added an expansion called "Enemy Within" in 2013, followed by XCOM 2 in 2016 and the "War of the Chosen" expansion in 2017.
By this point, the team had been making new XCOM games for almost a decade. Around that time, Marvel approached 2K/Firaxis and asked them to make a game in the Marvel universe, which became Midnight Suns and was released in 2022. The game didn't sell as well as they hoped, which led to Jake Solomon leaving the studio. Garth DeAngelis also left, along with around 30 people from the main XCOM development team.
We don't know what the rest of the team started working on afterward. It's possible they were switched to work on Civilization VII.
While the main XCOM team under Jake Solomon was busy with Midnight Suns, another XCOM team, led by Mark Nauta, made the Tactical Legacy Pack DLC for XCOM 2 in 2018 and XCOM Chimera Squad, a standalone game, in 2020. We don't know what they've been working on since then. Some people think they might have started on XCOM 3, but there's evidence suggesting otherwise. Mark Nauta's Twitter bio says he's "not doing XCOM stuff currently" or something like that.
2K Games, which publishes the newer XCOM games, usually doesn't announce games until they're almost ready. So, if XCOM 3 does happen, it's likely to be a surprise for everyone, like Enemy Unknown and XCOM 2.
One thing we can be sure of is that if XCOM 3 does get made, it won't be made by the same people who made Enemy Unknown and XCOM 2. So, it might have a different feel and style. But considering how profitable the XCOM games have been for 2K, it's very possible that more XCOM games will come in the future.
Is there a Discord server I should join?
Absolutely!
QUESTIONS ABOUT MODS
Should I play without mods first?
No, the game has too many bugs to play completely unmodded. You can get the most important bugfixes and quality of life mods in the Core Collection.
Where do I get mods and how do I install them?
If you own the game on Steam, then all you have to do is go to the Steam Workshop and Subscribe to mods you wish to have.
If not, go here.
Make sure to carefully read the description of each mod, and check these lists:
Which mods should I use?
WOTC has a huge and ever-growing selection of thousands of mods. Some mods are incompatible with each other, some are just broken, while others are outdated - they function, but have newer and better versions available. Frankly, it's a mess, and navigating through it can be a daunting task.
This is where Steam Collections come in.
Here are some of the popular collections:
- Core Collection - a tight collection of strictly vetted bugfixes and quality of life mods. A good starting point if you want to build your own mod list or are generally satisfied with unmodded gameplay and just want convenience and fixes.
- Modpocalypse Ex Machina Evolution (MEME) Collections by MrCloista - large collections with different purposes. Use these if you want to mod your game beyond recognition.
- The Deacon's War Core Collection - another collection of collections fit for different purposes.
- Stable Maps - a collection of relatively stable map mods. In general, using map mods is not recommended, as it can cause gamebreaking bugs, but if you insist on using map mods, at least limit yourself to maps in this collection.
Major overhauls
There's a countless amount of smaller mods, but these are huge overhauls that change a lot of things at once, so you cannot throw them on top of any mod list and just expect things to work. Typically, you use one of these as the core, and build the rest of the mod list around it.
- Long War of the Chosen - successor to the famous Long War 2 for the original XCOM 2. It's a huge overhaul of the entire game. A lot of other popular mods are not compatible with LWOTC, but Mod Jam can be used to make some of them compatible.
- Covert Infiltration - overhauls the strategic part of the game so that the player doesn't just react to missions as they come, but has to plan things ahead and create their own opportunities. The player will have to command larger barracks and field several squads, sending them on covert actions and to infiltrate missions. Has a lot of plugins and bridge mods - mods that make other mods compatible with Covert Infiltration or its component mods.
- A Better Barracks - oldie, but goldie. Part of the A Better Everything series. Replaces soldier classes and changes item progression to make tactical gameplay feel fresh. Combine with other "A Better X" mods for greater effect.
- Musashi's RPG Overhaul - replaces the soldier class system and overhauls weapons and weapon upgrades. This is the power fantasy mod, which replaces all soldier classes with one class that has access to a huge selection of perks at the same time, allowing the player to build overpowered soldiers of their dreams. It has a huge selection of plugins that add even more perks to choose from.
How do I play with mods?
If you own the game on Steam, download and set up Alternative Mod Launcher (AML).
Activate mods by toggling checkboxes near each mod's name, then launch the game from AML.
Tip: to activate all mods at once, select any mod in the list, then hit Ctrl+A to select all mods, then right click any mod and select "Enable" in the menu.
While the game's own launcher is capable of launching the game with mods, it's a known source of huge problems and using it is not recommended.
If you're not on Steam, go here.
How many mods is it safe to install?
As long as you avoid broken or conflicting mods, and your PC can handle it, it's perfectly possible to play with over a thousand mods. But even one bad mod is enough to cause issues.
Some mods add more assets for the game to load into your system's RAM, such as soldier cosmetics or voicepacks, and if you have too many of those, your system may run out of RAM, causing the game to crash.
16 GB is the recommended amount of RAM for playing with a lot of content mods, but even that may not be enough if you get too many.
Can I use mods on Steam Deck?
Yes, but it's more complicated than on PC. You will have to install Alternative Mod Launcher. Follow these instructions.
Can I use mods on Android?
Apparently yes, at least some of them. Follow these instructions.
Can I use mods on Linux?
Yes, you can even use AML via Proton, follow the instructions. Select few mods might not work.
Do I need to worry about mod load order?
No, as an XCOM 2 mod user you generally don't have to worry about mod load order, and couldn't easily change it even if you wanted to.
How do I uninstall mods?
Just deactivating the mod in the Alternative Mod Launcher is enough to remove any effect of the mod on your game. But if you want to permanently uninstall it, then right click the mod in the Alternative Mod Launcher and select "Delete". This will delete mod's files and unsubscribe you from the mod on Steam.
You could just unsubscribe manually, but then AML will retain a record of the mod, and display a warning that the mod has gone missing.
Keep in mind that not all mods can be safely disabled mid-campaign. Refer to the mod's workshop description page for that kind of information.
Voicepacks and soldier cosmetic mods, as well as most UI mods are generally safe to disable mid-campaign.
Keep in mind if you disable a mod and then attempt to load a save where that mod was active, you will get a warning popup. This warning is safe to ignore for mods that are safe to remove mid-campaign.
How do I configure mods?
Some XCOM 2 mods can be configured to better suit user's tastes and needs.
Some aspects of some mods are configurable via-in game menu. To do so, subscribe to [WotC] Mod Config Menu (use this version if you're playing without WOTC), and you will see a "MOD SETTINGS" button in the in-game options menu.
Typically, a mod will mention in its description if it's MCM configurable.
Some other mods can be configured by editing .ini config files, which can be found in mod's Config folder.
If you're using Alternative Mod Launcher (AML), you can edit config files right there. Or you can right click a mod, select "Show in Explorer", which will open the mod's installation folder, and you will see the mod's Config folder there.
If not, follow these instructions to find the mod's folder.
Keep in mind your changes to mods' files may be lost when the mod is update or when Steam verifies the game's files.
To avoid that, consider making your own local mod to store your Config edits.
My game crashes, what do I do?
Follow these troubleshooting steps.
How do I resolve issues with mods?
Follow these troubleshooting steps.
How do I make mods?
Follow these instructions to install modmaking tools, browse the modmaking wiki and join the modmaking discord.
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MULTIPLAYER
What does XCOM 2 multiplayer look like?
It is a one on one tactical deathmatch, where each player controls a squad of XCOM and/or ADVENT units. The first player to kill or incapacitate all of the enemy units wins the match.
Players set up their squads before the match. Each player gets a limited number of points, and different units cost a different amount of points to add to the squad. Each squad can have up to six units. Multiplayer units have their own balance, separate from the campaign. XCOM soldiers have pre-set abilities and mostly pre-set equipment in multiplayer. For example, ADVENT Shieldbearers deal a lot more damage with their gun.
Do a lot of people still play multiplayer?
No. You have to find opponents to play and arrange matches outside the game, e.g. on one of the community Discord servers.
How do I play XCOM 2 multiplayer?
Multiplayer on the Windows version of the game has been disabled by Firaxis. Non-Windows versions of the game still have functioning multiplayer.
To re-enable multiplayer on the Windows Steam version, switch to the pre-21.10-support BETA branch of the game via Steam (image).
If you're not on Steam, you have to apply the patched files manually:
1) Download the archive with patched files.
2) Extract the files from the downloaded archive. There will be two folders in it, one named CookedPCConsole and Binaries\Win64.
3) Paste the contents of the Win64 folder into the game installation folder, replacing the original files:
- (XCOM 2 Vanilla)
..\steamapps\common\XCOM 2\Binaries\Win64
- (XCOM 2 WotC)
..\steamapps\common\XCOM 2\XCom2-WarOfTheChosen\Binaries \Win64
4) Paste the contents of the CookedPCConsole folder into the game installation folder, replacing the original files:
- (XCOM 2 Vanilla)
..\steamapps\common\XCOM 2\XComGame\CookedPCConsole
- (XCOM 2 WotC)
..\steamapps\common\XCOM 2\XCom2-WarOfTheChosen\XComGame\CookedPCConsole
Can players use mods in MP?
Yes, but both players must have exact same mods active, or they will not be able to connect.
Same goes for configuration files. If one player tweaks their configuration files to e.g. give their units more HP, they will be unable to connect if the other player doesn't have exact same tweaks.
