It’s hard to find someone who doesn’t enjoy the XCOM-style formula. Managing bases, commanding soldiers, and—above all—developing new technologies to counter a mysterious alien threat is just too compelling to ignore, especially if you’re a fan of the original X-COM from the ’90s.
Well, if that sounds like you, there are now even more reasons to dive into the second installment of the Xenonauts series.
Developed by Goldhawk Interactive and published by Hooded Horse, the game is currently in Early Access, but a recent major update has introduced a wealth of new content. Let’s take a look at what’s new.
The latest development update for Xenonauts 2 provides key insights into the ongoing work on Milestone 5, including new gameplay additions, strategic refinements, and an early-game rebalance. The team has been focused on stability improvements, releasing three hotfixes, and finalizing a major gameplay update that consolidates significant changes into a single patch. While this update was initially planned for earlier release, it was delayed to prevent disruptions to existing campaigns. With the translation process set to begin later this month, the developers are aiming to finalize Milestone 5 in preparation for its public release.
Mind Control Abilities
A major addition in this update is the introduction of the Mind Control ability, a new psionic attack available to Psyon Officers, Psyon Leaders, and Eternals. Unlike previous iterations, this ability considers both the alien’s psionic strength and the defending soldier’s Bravery and Morale, with greater distances making it easier to resist.
The introduction of Mind Control replaces the older Mind War ability and modifies the Psyon Mesmerise ability, ensuring that this is now the sole method by which aliens can take control of player units. The addition makes Eternals significantly more threatening, given their high psi-strength.
Strategic Operations / Supporters
To address concerns about predictability in the Strategic Operations and Supporters systems, the developers have introduced dynamic elements to these mechanics. Strategic Operations now become more effective the longer they remain unused. For instance, the Raise Funds operation, which typically grants $500,000, increases by $10,000 for each unused day, resetting upon activation. This change encourages players to consider optimal timing rather than relying on static rewards.
Similarly, Supporters now have fluctuating protection levels that impact the cost of interactions. Every ten days, each supporter has a 50% chance of maintaining a normal state, with a 25% chance of either a high or low protection level. A high protection level increases recruitment or elimination costs by 30%, whereas a low level reduces costs by the same percentage. These adjustments ensure that players must strategically assess opportunities rather than simply accumulating enough Operation Points to act.
Narrative Improvements
Narrative improvements have also been a focus, with efforts to refine the plot-related writing and research projects. The early game now includes additional research topics that provide greater context on the alien invasion and the Cleaners’ motivations. Later-game research, particularly related to UOO-1, has been expanded with new text and mission briefings. The developers are also working on refining the text for Phase 5 and Operation ENDGAME, aiming to complete these final placeholders within the week.
First Phase Of The Game Extended
The early-game balance has received considerable attention based on player feedback. The first phase of the game has been extended by an additional month, increasing its duration to three months, while the Cleaner Base mission has been moved from early Phase 2 to the end of Phase 1. These adjustments are designed to create a more natural progression and reduce the sense of compression in the opening hours of the game.
With further balance testing planned after the next beta patch, the team is keen to continue refining the experience and encourages ongoing player feedback. As Milestone 5 nears completion, these refinements aim to improve both gameplay depth and strategic variety, ensuring a more polished experience for players.
