2K Marin, the studio behind BioShock 2, is setting its sights on classic series X-COM.

They're keeping the capitalisation but dropping the hyphen for the new instalment, which is thus titled XCOM. According to 2K it "combines the strategic core of the groundbreaking franchise with a suspense-filled narrative and distills it with a tense and unique first-person shooter experience".

As confirmed by extensive research on wikipedia, the first X-COM game was released in 1993 and was all about strategy. Two sequels followed, along with a fourth game which placed more of an emphasis on action.

2K's offering will put in in the role of an FBI agent who must identify and eliminate a growing alien threat. You'll be expected to overcome tough odds by taking strategic risks and enjoying "heart-stopping combat experiences that pit human ingenuity - and frailty - against a foe beyond comprehension". The game's first-person perspective is designed to increase the level of tension and fear.

"With BioShock 2, the team at 2K Marin proved themselves as masters of first-person, suspenseful storytelling, and with XCOM they will re-imagine and expand the rich lore of this revered franchise," said 2K president Christoph Hartmann.

"Players will explore the world of XCOM from an immersive new perspective and experience first-hand the fear and tension of this gripping narrative ride."

XCOM is in development for PC and Xbox 360. There's no word on a release date yet.

Gnnnnnnnnnnnnngh.

When will they learn that all they need to do is just re-release the original X-COM but with updated graphics, no bugs and perhaps more in the way of story and research trees.

XCOM needs to be released on the iPad. Laser Squad too. I am a frickin' genius.

Must say I'm a bit worried that they'll turn it into a first person shooter with all the tension of Tetris. But at least they're doing something with the IP and it does have the potential to be MEGA!

, , a million times

X-COM as a FPS? What a waste of a franchise.

SWAT 4 was brilliant if only for the fact that I played it through with a friend who would every time run into a room, gun everyone down, then press the button that made you shout "SWAT! DROP YOUR WEAPONS!" to their corpses.

It's also more or less been done with the abhorrent-with-no-redeeming-qualities Enforcer.

Gnnnnnnnnnnnnngh.

When will they learn that all they need to do is just re-release the original X-COM but with updated graphics, no bugs and perhaps more in the way of story and research trees.

Gnnnnnnnnnnnnngh.

When will they learn that all they need to do is just re-release the original X-COM but with updated graphics, no bugs and perhaps more in the way of story and research trees. And watch while no fucker buys it, taking the critical acclaim to put on the mantelpiece, while throwing stacks of dollar bills on to the fire.

Space Hulk