XCOM fans are about to have a new way to command their soldiers - this time with physical miniatures on a tabletop. According to PC Gamer, Modiphius Entertainment, the studio responsible for the well-regarded Fallout: Wasteland Warfare miniatures game, is developing an XCOM tabletop title.
Modiphius has built a solid reputation for translating beloved video game franchises into tabletop experiences, so this is a pairing that makes a lot of sense on paper. The XCOM series, with its squad-based tactical gameplay and deep strategic layer, seems almost purpose-built for a miniatures adaptation - the core loop of managing soldiers, responding to alien threats, and making agonizing tactical decisions translates naturally to physical play.
A good fit for the tabletop treatment
Firaxis's XCOM games already borrow heavily from tabletop DNA, using cover systems, action points, and percentage-based hit chances that any wargamer would recognize immediately. Bringing that back to a physical format feels like a natural full circle for the franchise.
Modiphius has proven it can handle gritty, tactical video game IP with Fallout: Wasteland Warfare, which launched in 2018 and developed a dedicated fanbase. That game managed to capture the post-apocalyptic tension of the Fallout series while giving players meaningful tactical decisions to make across varied scenarios.
What to expect
Specific details about rules, miniature counts, or release windows haven't been confirmed yet, so it's too early to know whether this will lean more into the base-building strategic side of XCOM or focus purely on ground-level squad combat. Given Modiphius's track record, a scenario-driven skirmish format with campaign progression seems like a reasonable expectation.
For PC and console XCOM veterans who've never rolled physical dice, this could be a compelling entry point into miniatures gaming. And for tabletop players who've never fired up Enemy Unknown, the reverse is equally true. Either way, the aliens aren't going to shoot themselves - keep an eye on Modiphius's announcements for more details as they surface.
