TinyMob Games (the creators of Tiny Realms) announced M.E.R.C., a squad-based real-time tactics game that's due to hit Steam Early Access on January 17th, 2017. Pre-orders aren't available yet, but you can check the minimum and recommend requirements on the game's product page.

　　Set in Neotopia ("the last city standing"), M.E.R.C. is riddled with the corruption and greed of corporations - as you would expect given the setting. The player's goal will be to hire a squad of four characters and neutralize the threat posed in particular by the Manta corporation. Recruiting and upgrading units, learning special abilities and acquiring the best equipment will be vital to succeed in this objective.

　　Game Director Jamie Toghill said:

　　I was fortunate early in my career to work on the original X-COM series. I’ve always felt that the real-time play we introduced in the third instalment was a great twist on the genre. With M.E.R.C., we’re combining deep, strategic real-time action with cooperative gameplay for a rich sense of suspense and excitement.

　　These are the key features of M.E.R.C. as outlined by TinyMob Games:

　　Control your mercenary squad as a 4-person team – advance units, take cover, designate units to engage with special abilities. For seriously tricky tactical firefights, break the squad into 2-person pods - Alpha and Bravo and wreak havoc.Team up with other players in co-op multiplayer action. Combine forces by taking your best two units into battle with their best units. Play through story missions, campaigns and side missions together to take down the uprising of Manta.The Sprawl is a mysterious place, with new dangers around every corner. Anticipate and conquer challenges by managing the composition of your team based on the needs of missions, including unit capability, strength and special ability. Successful missions will be rewarded with financial bonuses and increased reputation. Use the rewards wisely to enable optimal progress for your troops.Your merc squad will encounter many extreme challenges. Train your units to take on Manta with multiple unit classes– Assault, Sniper, Heavy & Engineer. Further specialize the units with sub-classes such as Medic, Hacker, etc. and take them into battle to gain XP and Skill Points to unlock more special abilities.Check out the first in-game screenshots and teaser trailer below.

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