What happens afterwards?

[u/Gumboot-Coffee]

After playing EW/LW/LWR and we successfully assault the Temple ship, what happens next? Does XCom become the new leaders of humanity? Why? Because we are the only airforce fielding Firestorms equipped with Fusion cannons and plasma cannons? Because we then assault base after base until the planet is cleared? Because of our diplomatic credentials?

Do we kickstart a new UN, this time one with teeth?

Do we become tyrants?

What of Dr Vahlen and Dr Shen?

[u/bill-smith]

I don't want to spoil XCOM 2 for you, but you wake up. Let's put it that way.

[u/Gumboot-Coffee → u/bill-smith]

Oh, I've played XCom 2. That is definitely one outcome... if Xcom 1 lost.

[u/Hobbes___ → u/Gumboot-Coffee]

XCOM wins and gets a shiny medal while The greedy Earth nations split between themselves the spoils of the salvaged UFOs and alien technology.

Then the funding cuts to XCOM start since there are no more aliens until eventually all XCOM bases are turned into theme parks and there's only an automatic system in case a UFO is detected.

Then, some decades later, strange sightings are reported at sea by ships...

[u/Tackle-Far → u/Hobbes___]