Xenonauts 2: A Modder’s Dream – Official Release Brings Endless Possibilities

The Year is 2009: Xenonauts 2 Launch Trailer

In the launch trailer for Xenonauts 2, the opening line “The year is 2009” sets the stage for a game that delves into an alternate future. It paints a picture of a world vastly different from the one many of us experienced in that year, with concerns ranging from swine flu to pop culture trends like Yu-Gi-Oh!. After nearly three years in early access, Xenonauts 2 is finally ready for its full release.

For those unfamiliar with the game, Xenonauts 2 places players in a world where aliens have invaded, putting them in charge of a multinational military group tasked with defeating the extraterrestrial threat. The game blends research elements with turn-based combat, challenging players to gather samples and study their alien adversaries while engaging in strategic battles.

The 1.0 release of Xenonauts 2 introduces several significant updates. Farm tactical maps have undergone a major revamp, and new scout UFO maps have been added to each biome. Art assets, including background visuals and top-down interceptor art, have been enhanced, allowing players to see real-time changes to their aircraft loadouts. Additionally, the game has been optimized for improved performance, with faster loading times, smoother strategy UI, and quicker enemy AI decision-making.

Mod support is now fully functional in the 1.0 release, enabling players to create and share custom content. Goldhawk Interactive, the game’s developer, notes that the necessary technical groundwork for mods has been completed, including tools for editing texture files and managing mods through the in-game UI and Steam Workshop. While the general-purpose mod editor tools are still in development, experienced modders familiar with Harmony code modding can begin creating and distributing mods immediately.

A comprehensive list of tweaks, fixes, and updates accompanies the 1.0 release, detailed in a Steam blog post by Goldhawk Interactive. For those who have been waiting for the full release of Xenonauts 2, now is an ideal time to dive into the game, especially with a discount available until the middle of the month. The game is available for purchase on Steam.