XCOM 2 - PCGamingWiki PCGW - bugs, fixes, crashes, mods, guides and improvements for every PC game

XCOM 2
Developers

	Firaxis Games
	Blind Squirrel Games^[1]
macOS (OS X)	Feral Interactive
Linux	Feral Interactive
Publishers
	2K Games
OS X, Linux	Feral Interactive
Engines
	Unreal Engine 3
Release dates
Windows	February 5, 2016
macOS (OS X)	February 5, 2016
Linux	February 5, 2016
Reception
Metacritic	88
OpenCritic	87
IGDB	85
Taxonomy
Monetization	One-time game purchase, DLC, Expansion pack
Microtransactions	Cosmetic, Finite spend
Modes	Singleplayer, Multiplayer
Pacing	Turn-based
Perspectives	Bird's-eye view
Controls	Point and select
Genres	Strategy
Art styles	Realistic
Themes	Sci-fi
Series	X-COM

X-COM
X-COM: UFO Defense	1994
X-COM: Terror from the Deep	1995
X-COM: Apocalypse	1997
X-COM: Interceptor	1998
X-COM: Email games	1999
X-COM: Enforcer	2001
XCOM: Enemy Unknown	2012
The Bureau: XCOM Declassified	2013
XCOM 2	2016
XCOM: Chimera Squad	2020

Contents 1 Availability 1.1 Version differences 2 Monetization 2.1 DLC and expansion packs 3 Essential improvements 3.1 Skip intro videos 4 Game data 4.1 Configuration file(s) location 4.2 Save game data location 4.3 Save game cloud syncing 5 Video 5.1 Multi-monitor 6 Input 6.1 Xbox controller proper recognition 6.2 Fix for key bindings and controller remapping 7 Audio 7.1 Localizations 8 Network 8.1 Multiplayer types 9 Issues unresolved 9.1 Game crashes to desktop when performing an action 10 Issues fixed 10.1 Game launcher won't start 11 Other information 11.1 API 11.2 Middleware 11.3 Mod Launcher 12 System requirements 13 References

XCOM 2 is a singleplayer and multiplayer bird's-eye view strategy game in the X-COM series.

General information

PC Report: XCOM 2

UFOpaedia - Wiki for the series

GOG.com Community Discussions

GOG.com Support Page

Steam Community Discussions

Availability

Source	DRM	Notes	Keys	OS
Retail
Developer website		Collection also available.
Epic Games Store		Collection also available.
GamersGate		Digital Deluxe Edition, Collection also available.
		Digital Deluxe Edition, Collection also available.
GOG.com
Green Man Gaming		Digital Deluxe Edition, Collection also available.
Humble Store		Collection also available.
Mac App Store		Cannot play multiplayer with Steam players.^[2]
Steam		Digital Deluxe Edition, Collection also available.
Amazon.com (unavailable)		Digital Deluxe Edition also available.

All Linux versions require Steam DRM.

Version differences

Collection includes all the DLC.

Digital Deluxe Edition includes only the Reinforcement Pack DLC.

Monetization

DLC and expansion packs

Name	Notes
Resistance Warrior Pack	Pre-order bonus, also available for separate purchase.
War of the Chosen
Reinforcement Pack
Alien Hunters	Included as part of the Reinforcement Pack.
Shen's Last Gift	Included as part of the Reinforcement Pack.
Anarchy's Children	Cosmetic. Included as part of the Reinforcement Pack.

Essential improvements

Skip intro videos

Use the `-nostartupmovies` command line argument^{[citation needed]}

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

System	Location
Windows	%USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Games\XCOM2\XComGame\Config\
macOS (OS X)	$HOME/Library/Application Support/Feral Interactive/XCOM 2/
Linux	$XDG_DATA_HOME/feral-interactive/XCOM2/Config/

This game follows the XDG Base Directory Specification on Linux.

Save game data location

System	Location
Windows	%USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Games\XCOM2\XComGame\SaveData\
macOS (OS X)	$HOME/Library/Application Support/Feral Interactive/XCOM 2/VFS/Local/my games/XCOM2/XComGame/SaveData/
Linux	$XDG_DATA_HOME/feral-interactive/XCOM2/VFS/Local/my games/XCOM2/XComGame/SaveData/ $XDG_DATA_HOME/feral-interactive/XCOM 2 WotC/VFS/Local/my games/XCOM2 War of the Chosen/XComGame/SaveData/

Save game cloud syncing

System	Native	Notes
Epic Games Launcher
GOG Galaxy
OneDrive		Requires enabling backup of the Documents* folder in OneDrive on all computers.*
Steam Cloud

Custom characters and pools are not saved to the Steam Cloud.

Video

In-game video settings.

In-game graphics settings.

Graphics feature	WSGF	Notes
Widescreen resolution
Multi-monitor		Needs fix for Vert- FOV; see Multi-monitor.
Ultra-widescreen		Needs fix for Vert- FOV; see Multi-monitor.
4K Ultra HD
Field of view (FOV)
Windowed
Borderless fullscreen windowed
Anisotropic filtering (AF)
Anti-aliasing (AA)	FXAA, MSAA (Windows only).
Vertical sync (Vsync)
60 FPS and 120+ FPS
High dynamic range display (HDR)	See the glossary page for potential alternatives.

Multi-monitor

Edit configuration file^[3]
Go to the configuration files location. Open `XComEngine.ini`. Go to the `[Engine.LocalPlayer]` section. Change `AspectRatioAxisConstraint=AspectRatio_MaintainXFOV` to `AspectRatioAxisConstraint=AspectRatio_MaintainYFOV` Save your changes and close the file.

Input

Keyboard and mouse	State	Notes
Remapping
Mouse acceleration
Mouse sensitivity
Mouse input in menus
Mouse Y-axis inversion
Controller
Controller support
Full controller support
Controller remapping
Controller sensitivity
Controller Y-axis inversion

Controller types

XInput-compatible controllers

DualShock 4 controllers		Enable Steam Input API for native support.

Generic/other controllers

Additional information
Button prompts
Controller hotplugging
Haptic feedback
Simultaneous controller+KB/M

Steam Input
Steam Input API support
Official controller preset(s)
Steam Controller button prompts

Xbox controller proper recognition

Switch off `xbox controller support` in the Steam general controller settings using the Big Picture mode.^[4]

Fix for key bindings and controller remapping

Key bindings not saving fix and controller remapping^{[citation needed]}
Open `%USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Games\XCOM2\XComGame\Config\XComInput.ini` Since XCOM 2 has multiple keybinding subsets, look for the section called `[XComGame.XComTacticalInput]` for the "Tactical Shortcuts" or `[XComGame.XComHeadquartersInput]` for the " Avenger Shortcuts". These sections contain the keybindings and their corresponding commands for both keyboard and controller. Change the name of the keybinding to the desired key. Example: Bindings=(Name="Z", Command="W_Key_Press \| onrelease W_Key_Release", bPrimaryBinding=True)

Key bindings not saving fix and controller remapping^{[citation needed]}

Open %USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Games\XCOM2\XComGame\Config\XComInput.ini
Since XCOM 2 has multiple keybinding subsets, look for the section called [XComGame.XComTacticalInput] for the "Tactical Shortcuts" or [XComGame.XComHeadquartersInput] for the " Avenger Shortcuts".
These sections contain the keybindings and their corresponding commands for both keyboard and controller.
Change the name of the keybinding to the desired key.

Example:

Bindings=(Name="Z", Command="W_Key_Press | onrelease W_Key_Release", bPrimaryBinding=True)

Audio

In-game audio settings.

Audio feature	State	Notes
Separate volume controls		Voice, sound effects, music, and VOIP.
Surround sound
Subtitles
Closed captions
Mute on focus lost		There is no option and no known workaround to disable that feature. This game uses Unreal Engine 3.5 which renders most workarounds non-working.
Royalty free audio

Localizations

Language	UI	Audio	Sub	Notes
English
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
French
German
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Polish
Russian
Spanish

Network

Steam and Mac App Store players cannot play together.^[2]

Multiplayer types

Type	Players	Notes
Local play
LAN play	2	Versus
Online play	2	Versus Deactivated on Steam's Windows version on March 28, 2022.^[5]

Issues unresolved

Game crashes to desktop when performing an action

Partially corrupted save^{[citation needed]}
Your save file successfully loads but crashes the game when you perform an action (shoot, overwatch, etc.). If you are able to load a save from a different mission and perform actions without crashing, then your aforementioned save may be partially corrupted. Once corrupted, any save file made thereafter contains the glitch causing the game to crash. Try older saves and continue from there. Creating a unique save at the beginning of a mission can help prevent significant loss of progression.

Partially corrupted save^{[citation needed]}

Your save file successfully loads but crashes the game when you perform an action (shoot, overwatch, etc.). If you are able to load a save from a different mission and perform actions without crashing, then your aforementioned save may be partially corrupted. Once corrupted, any save file made thereafter contains the glitch causing the game to crash.

Try older saves and continue from there. Creating a unique save at the beginning of a mission can help prevent significant loss of progression.

Issues fixed

Game launcher won't start

Close MSI Afterburner^{[citation needed]}
If you have MSI Afterburner (and RTSS running with the overlay) your game might not launch. Simply close the program and it should launch.

Other information

API

Technical specs	Supported	Notes
Direct3D	11
OpenGL	4

Executable	32-bit	64-bit	Notes
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Linux

Middleware

	Middleware	Notes
Physics	PhysX	Has Nvidia's proprietary PhysX hardware acceleration, running in CPU mode by default. Find XComEngine.ini in the config folder location and find the line bDisablePhysXHardwareSupport and switch it to False to reduce CPU usage and improve overall FPS. Uses the GPU to accelerate PhysX BUT removes 3d particles from appearing (source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5NcBoCkKSw) ^{[citation needed]}
Audio	Wwise
Input	SDL2	Only on OS X and Linux.
Cutscenes	Bink2

Mod Launcher

See XCOM 2 Mod Launcher.

System requirements

Windows
	Minimum	Recommended
Operating system (OS)	7
Processor (CPU)	Intel Core 2 Duo E4700 2.6 GHz AMD Phenom X4 9950 2.6 GHz	3.0 GHz Quad Core
System memory (RAM)	4 GB	8 GB
Hard disk drive (HDD)	45 GB
Video card (GPU)	Nvidia GeForce GTX 460 ATI Radeon HD 5770 1 GB of VRAM DirectX 11 compatible	Nvidia GeForce GTX 770 AMD Radeon HD 7970 2 GB of VRAM
Sound (audio device)	DirectX compatible

A 64-bit operating system is required.

macOS (OS X)
	Minimum
Operating system (OS)	10.13.6
Processor (CPU)	Intel Core i5 2.5 GHz
System memory (RAM)	8 GB
Hard disk drive (HDD)	45 GB
Video card (GPU)	Nvidia GeForce GT 650M ATI Radeon HD 5770 Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 1 GB (Nvidia, ATI), 1.5 GB (Intel) of VRAM

Linux
	Minimum	Recommended
Operating system (OS)	Ubuntu 14.04.2, SteamOS
Processor (CPU)	Intel Core i3-3225 3.3 GHz	Intel Core i7
System memory (RAM)	4 GB	8 GB
Hard disk drive (HDD)	45 GB
Video card (GPU)	Nvidia GeForce GTX 650 AMD Radeon R9 270 1 GB of VRAM	Nvidia GeForce GTX 960 2 GB of VRAM

A 64-bit operating system is required.

Intel GPUs are not officially supported.

Nvidia requires 355.63 or newer drivers (358.16 recommended).

AMD requires Mesa 13.0.1 driver compiled using LLVM 3.9.

References

↑ XCOM 2 : War Of The Chosen - last accessed on 2022-07-15
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 Feral Support | XCOM 2 FAQs | Can Windows, Mac and Linux users play multiplayer matches together?
↑ View topic - XCOM 2 | WSGF
↑ How to use an Xbox One controller for Xcom 2 on Steam - last accessed on September 2019
↑ XCOM 2 STEAM MULTIPLAYER AND CHALLENGE MODE UPDATE - 2K Support - last accessed on 2022-05-26