Good day, commanders.
The problem:
1999 is no longer in the near future. However, the game takes place in the near future. Therefore, shifting the date somewhere later makes sense.
The solution:
Put this:
startingTime:
second: 0
minute: 0
hour: 12
weekday: 5
day: 1
month: 1
year: 2099
Into data/Ruleset/FutureStartDate.rul,
And add this:
- FutureStartDate.rul
In the end of openxcom.cfg.
Fun note: the week day in the attached start date is correct!