In addition to expanding XCOM 2‘s control options, this week’s update offers a glimpse into a world packed with detail that players would not otherwise see when using the game’s default camera angles.
XCOM 2, released earlier this year, is the sequel to Firaxis Games’ hit 2012 strategy game XCOM: Enemy Unknown. A revival of the classic ’90s-era UFO series, XCOM and its sequel put players in control of a squadron of soldiers who square off against alien invaders in a series of tactical missions.
Players normally don’t get to see much of their teammates during gameplay, but this week’s patch allows curious fans to check up on their squad while stationed at the Avenger command center by entering a series of simple debug commands.
“Traditionally, XCOM has used a zoomed-out, overhead tactical camera so players can see the entire battlefield,” XCOM 2 creative director Jake Solomon explains in the video above. “Players only get brief glimpses of what the game looks like from the ground level.”
Solomon continues: “What you may not know is that there’s full camera control that can be turned on at any time. Doing so while you’re in HQ can let you take a first-person tour of the Avenger.”
After enabling console commands via Steam, players who wish to explore the Avenger must hit their keyboard’s tilde or backslash keys. At the console command screen, players must then enter “toggledebugcamera” in order to access the game’s expanded camera control options.
Though the Avenger usually serves as a backdrop for mission briefings and other in-game cinematics, the environment is packed with details that “you would never see with the regular camera,” according to Solomon. Soldier bunks are filled with photos and hand-drawn pictures, for instance, while the bar area allows commanders to share a drink with their troops.
XCOM 2 is available now for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC platforms. Currently, the game’s debug features are exclusive to the PC release.
