Company of Heroes 3 could be about to mount a comeback. At launch, back in 2023, it felt like the enemies weren’t smart and tactical enough and like a lot of key features were missing. The map selection was pretty slim, the inventory system was basic, and the visuals didn’t seem like that much of a step up compared to CoH 2. With the iconic Commandos series about to make a comeback and Tempest Rising reviving the essence of Command and Conquer, Relic needs to step up its WW2 RTS game. Thankfully, the new Company of Heroes 3 2.0 update and the Fire and Steel DLC seem like the perfect next chapters.
Since launch, Relic has added 13 new maps to Company of Heroes 3, and also improved the UI and enemy behaviors. Now, as the RTS game hits its second anniversary, the studio has a sprawling, fresh overhaul called 2.0. There are four new maps for multiplayer and skirmish modes, and Relic says it has focused on making units more responsive. The audio has been improved, particularly in relation to ambient sounds, and the Italian campaign has been reworked to try to make choices more impactful.
The Loyalty system has been completely retooled – there are no more penalties, meaning that progress is now permanent. There are also new tooltips and dozens of balance changes for multiplayer. Tank riding is faster and easier, demo charges are now more devastating against all targets, and late-game technology advances have been slowed slightly, so that light vehicles are useful for longer.
Alongside the 2.0 update, the new Company of Heroes 3 DLC, Fire and Steel, adds four fresh battlegroups, each accompanied by their own heavy tank. The US forces get the new heavy weapons battlegroup, the Wehrmacht has the Terror battlegroup, the British are joined by the Canadian Shock team, and the Deutsches Afrikakorps gets the Panzerjäger Kommand group.
In terms of player reception, all these additions seem to be helping. While CoH 3 still has an aggregated ‘mixed’ rating on Steam, based solely on recent reviews – that is, user reviews posted in the last 30 days – its rating is a much more buoyant ‘mostly positive.’ There is also a significant jump in the number of positive reviews on Tuesday February 25, when both Fire and Steel and the 2.0 update were launched. On Monday February 24, only 14 positive player reviews were posted on Steam for Company of Heroes 3. On February 25, there were 55.
If you want to try it out and give CoH 3 another shot, you can get the Fire and Steel DLC for $24.99 / £19.49. Just head here. The DLC itself already has a ‘very positive’ rating from players.
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