10 Times Video Games STOLE From Fans
9. XCOM 2 – From Borrowed Influence to Official Partnership
Not every time a developer "borrows" from fans ends in controversy - sometimes, it leads to collaboration. In the case of XCOM 2, it’s hard to ignore just how much of the sequel’s DNA was shaped by the original game's most famous mod: Long War.
This fan-made overhaul for XCOM: Enemy Unknown rebalanced combat, added new classes, weapon tiers, and completely reshaped how the campaign flowed. It was such a hit with players that by the time XCOM 2 was in development, the influence was unmistakable - longer missions, more granular soldier control, deeper strategy... it all echoed Long War’s design.
Rather than deny it, Firaxis did something refreshing: they admitted it, and they officially brought the modders into the fold. Long War Studios (now Pavonis Interactive) were hired to develop day-one mods for XCOM 2, including new classes, weapons, and enemy types - essentially letting them shape the launch experience alongside the devs.
It’s a rare case where a studio borrowed from the fans... then gave them a seat at the table.