Firaxis Games is marking a monumental milestone this week. To celebrate the Firaxis Games 30th anniversary on Friday, May 1, the studio has unveiled a surprising new project and a deep-discount event for long-time fans.

While the gaming community has spent years speculating about a mainline sequel, the new announcement isn’t for a PC or console title. Instead, Firaxis is pivoting to the tabletop scene.

In a strategic partnership with publisher Modiphius, the studio is launching XCOM: The Miniatures Game. This new board game draws its primary inspiration from the 2012 reboot, XCOM: Enemy Unknown.

Modiphius is no stranger to translating digital worlds into physical ones, having previously handled high-profile adaptations for franchises like Fallout and Mass Effect. While specific gameplay details remain scarce, the “Miniatures” branding suggests a heavier focus on detailed figurines than the 2015 XCOM: The Board Game produced by Fantasy Flight Games, which has since vanished from retail shelves.

For those who prefer their strategy on a screen, the Firaxis Games 30th anniversary celebrations include a massive Steam sale beginning April 30. The event promises “huge savings” across the studio’s legendary back catalogue.

Expect to find deep discounts on the Civilization series and the XCOM library. This is a prime opportunity to pick up Marvel’s Midnight Suns, a critically acclaimed but commercially struggling title that failed to find a mass audience despite its innovative XCOM-style tactical combat.

Does a miniatures game satisfy the craving for more XCOM content, or is it merely a distraction from the lack of a digital sequel?

It has been over a decade since the launch of XCOM 2, a title that set the gold standard for the genre. Even the 2020 spin-off, XCOM: Chimera Squad, failed to provide the full-scale experience fans are yearning for.

While titles like Xenonauts 2 and the anticipated Star Wars: Zero Company fill the tactical void, they aren’t a replacement for a true XCOM 3.

However, Firaxis is currently preoccupied with its latest behemoth. The studio recently launched Civilization 7, and current reports suggest that future updates for the title are already in the works.

In a celebratory blog post, the studio expressed gratitude to its community: “Whether you’ve been with us since the last century, or just started your first campaign this year, we are incredibly grateful for your time and your passion.”

Would you trade your mouse and keyboard for a handful of miniatures and a dice roll to fight the alien menace?