Relic Entertainment has announced the Company of Heroes 3: 3.0 Update, which will launch on PC on November 5th. According to a release, it will be ‘the most significant’ update to Company of Heroes 3 since the game launched. Relic, the Vancouver-based studio behind the Company of Heroes series of World War II real-time strategy (RTS) games, said the update is part of its celebrations for the franchise’s 20th anniversary.
The update covers almost every part of the game, from visuals and sound to the computer-controlled AI opponents, balance, maps and the single-player campaign. Final Stand content is also included. Relic said the changes are meant to ‘elevate the battlefield experience’ for new and returning players.
Weather, visuals and audio
The 3.0 Update adds snow and rain weather effects, along with improved fog, soldier lighting and dynamic terrain wetness. Animation systems have also been updated, and new environmental art sets bring industrial, winter and autumn-themed battlefields to the game.
On the audio side, weapon firing sounds, impacts, explosions and vehicle destruction effects have all been reworked. The update also adds to the game’s music selection with classic tracks from Company of Heroes and Company of Heroes 2.
AI, balance and campaign changes
Relic has upgraded the game’s AI with better late-game performance and a new Combat Rating calculation. According to the release, this lets the AI make smarter decisions in battle, including when to retreat. Further balance changes build on earlier updates, with Relic aiming to encourage a wider range of strategies while continuing to tackle dominant ones.
The campaign has received fixes for progression-blocking issues, along with a broader round of bug fixes and presentation improvements. The Italian Dynamic Campaign Map has been given a visual overhaul in line with the rest of the update, and Relic said changes to map clarity should make the campaign easier to read and navigate.
New maps and cosmetics
Every multiplayer map in Company of Heroes 3 has been updated with visual, lighting, weather and gameplay changes. On top of that, five new maps will be added to the game:
- Ancona Railyard (1v1)
- Vire River Valley (2v2)
- Foggia Winter (3v3)
- Turin Steelworks (4v4)
- Radarstation Mammut (4v4)
Relic also highlighted three existing maps that received the most extensive refresh work. The refreshed maps are:
- Langres (1v1)
- Mignano Summit Winter (3v3)
- Rapido River Crossing (4v4)
Four premium cosmetic sets will be released alongside the update, tied to the game’s new seasonal environments. Each set is linked to one of the game’s factions:
- Climb to Glory (US Forces)
- Edelweiss (Wehrmacht)
- Bloody Baltic (British Forces)
- Cold Snap (Deutsches Afrikakorps)
Final Stand update
Owners of Company of Heroes 3: Final Stand will receive their own content update on the same day. It adds a three-player mode, a new battleground called Dam, extra player and enemy units, 14 new abilities and 35 new passive technologies, as well as a visual update to the existing battleground and balance changes.
Dam is built around a weather-driven mechanic. According to the release, storms reduce visibility and unit range while clear skies increase range, which can shift how a fight plays out.
Company of Heroes at 20
The 3.0 Update arrives during the 20th anniversary of the Company of Heroes series. Relic recently announced Company of Heroes: Definitive Edition as part of the celebrations, and said players can expect continued support, updates and new content across the franchise.
