We've covered some general aspects of the Xenonauts-2 backstory in our previous updates, but today we're going to be looking at something that will directly affect your strategic approach to the game...
You'll quickly learn that the aliens' tactical capability isn't limited to small craft entering Earth's atmosphere as in Xenonauts-1: this time, they're taking aim at major cities with a terrifying new weapon.
Shortly after beginning the game, your Chief Scientist will discover an unknown object designated UOO-1. A few days later you'll learn that it is not friendly. The alien space station hovering above Earth is in fact a superweapon that will regularly destroy a major city from orbit, causing a large Panic spike in the affected region. This happens more and more frequently as the game progresses, ratcheting up the tension as you build towards the end of the campaign!
A Thematic Twist
We’ve introduced this system for both thematic and gameplay reasons. Thematically, this emphasises the technological superiority of the alien forces - even if you’ve managed to intercept all the UFOs that have spawned in recent weeks and won all your tactical battles, the aliens still control space and are inexorably bombing humanity into submission!
Gameplay Impact
In gameplay terms, this serves to cut short games where the Xenonauts are already losing badly. If you are doing well in your campaign, the Panic damage from UOO-1 is largely counterbalanced by passive Panic reduction that occurs from completing research. However, if a player has fallen behind the technology curve and can’t win ground battles that allow them to unlock new research options, they’ll quickly see Panic rising out of control.
Of course, we don’t want this experience to be unfair: it would be no fun if a player suffered bad luck and lost a region because the Orbital Bombardment repeatedly hit the same region, or was unlucky enough to suffer a bombardment on a region just after they’d failed a Terror Site there, etc. In order to prevent this from happening, the Bombardment always hits the region with the least Panic.
Orbital Bombardment should help us avoid the "death spiral" scenarios which can plague other long-form strategy titles: you'll need to stay ahead of the curve to maintain tactical supremacy.
Many thanks for reading and for staying up-to-date with our work - as ever please do join us on Discord, the forums or the Steam community if you have any questions.
As ever, we have a lot going on behind the scenes so join us in two weeks' time for the next full development update.