In the modern age of video games, multiplayer is king and XCOM: Enemy Unknown is going for the crown. Developer Firaxis Games has revealed details on the multiplayer portion of its upcoming reboot of the classic turn-based strategy game series.

For the first time in the franchise's history, XCOM commanders will be able to go head-to-head in deathmatch. The two-player mode allows players to select a squad of six soldiers or aliens - or a combination of the two - to vie for battlefield superiority.

"With the multiplayer mode in XCOM: Enemy Unknown, gamers can finally find out what it's like to command alien units and unleash extraterrestrial destruction on Planet Earth or defend it with a squad of XCOM soldiers and alien allies," XCOM: Enemy Unknown lead designer Jake Solomon said.

From a narrative perspective, the multiplayer mode has no link to the single-player campaign found in XCOM: Enemy Unknown. Players can "mix and match both alien and soldier units to comprise their squad, outfitting soldiers with dozens of armor types, weapons, items and class-based abilities for thousands of possible loadout combinations," a press release announcing the mode revealed.

Pre-orders of XCOM: Enemy Unknown give players access to the 'Elite Solider Pack,' which includes a set of "top-of-the-line soldier customization features," such as the Soldier Deco packs and complete color customization," along with the (already known) classic XCOM soldier flat-top harido. PC players will also have a shot at a platform-exclusive special edition, featuring "a number of unique XCOM items, including an art book; fold-out poster of the XCOM headquarters; XCOM insignia patch; and a collection of digital bonus assets such as desktop wallpaper, soundtrack and more."
XCOM: Enemy Unknown launches for the PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on October 9. And, spoiler alert, the unknown enemies are totally aliens.