If X-COM goes bankrupt, loses all its bases, or fails the Mars mission, the Council of Funding Nations surrenders. In the PlayStation version's defeat cutscene, the aliens violently murder the negotiator sent to discuss terms. Legacy and Continuity
You discover that alien technology relies on Elerium-115 , a stable heavy element not found on Earth, which becomes the most vital resource for humanity's advanced crafts and weapons. UFO: Enemy Unknown
The modern XCOM: Enemy Unknown reboots this story for a new timeline. In the timeline of XCOM 2 , it is revealed that X-COM actually lost the war early on, and the "victory" from the previous game was a simulation run in the Commander's mind while they were held captive. If X-COM goes bankrupt, loses all its bases,
Once X-COM develops the (a powerful interstellar craft), they launch a final mission to Mars. The modern XCOM: Enemy Unknown reboots this story
The story continues in X-COM: Terror from the Deep , where a second wave of aliens awakens from the ocean floor.
Late-game research uncovers the truth: the invasion is being orchestrated by the , a highly advanced, psionic race that has enslaved other species to serve as their military arm. Their primary base in the solar system is located in the Cydonia region of Mars. The Final Assault: Cydonia
You recover alien corpses and technology from crash sites to develop laser and plasma weaponry.