Civilization and XCOM Devs Form New Studio Bit Reactor

gamerant.com:

Firaxis Games is unique in the gaming industry. The Maryland-based game studio was founded in 1996 and produced a range of strategy and simulation games under the name of founder Sid Meier. In modern times, Firaxis has defined the modern approachable 4X game and helped create a wave of punishing throwback turn-based tactics titles. Being stuck in a cycle of developing Civilization and XCOM games isn't for everyone, however. Unsurprisingly, a team of Firaxis has now spun off its own studio -- Bit Reactor.

Bit Reactor, which will be based on Maryland alongside Firaxis, is being led by the Civilization and XCOM studio's former art director, Greg Foertsch. Foertsch will take on the role of co-founder and CEO in the new studio. He's being joined by a team of veterans who have also departed Firaxis and have deep roots in the Civilization and XCOM franchises. Bit Reactor isn't solely made of former Firaxis devs, however. The studio's new website also points to experience within the team from the development of Elder Scrolls Online.

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As for what Bit Reactor's focus will be going forward, the studio's modus operandi is to improve on the ideas it's previously worked on. It wants to create independent games with "rock solid gameplay" that works in harmony with "deep storytelling," "immersive presentation," and "high production values." With that in mind, Bit Reactor says that it's planning to help "usher in a new era of games" by creating experiences that "blur the line between strategy and action."

With that in mind, Bit Reactor also explicitly states that it will be developing turn-based tactics games, a genre that will absolutely allow it to blend both