May 9, 2014
Company of Heroes 2: The Western Front Armies release date announced, will reinforce multiplayer next month
Company of Heroes 2
Company of Heroes 2


It's a worrying sign that we can have favourite wars; that people can sit around the pub, aggressively arguing that the dramatic impact of aerial warfare makes World War 2 a better conflict than the American Civil War, despite its pioneering use of railroads. At least Relic are doing their part to alleviate inter-war tension with Company of Heroes 2: The Western Front Armies a standalone multiplayer expansion that leaves behind CoH2's Eastern front setting in favour of CoH1's Western lands. If you prefer to battle across the sunnier side of Europe, you'll be able to do so when the expandalone reports for duty on June 24th.

As the name implies, the expansion allows CoH2 multiplayer fans to fight across the Western front, adding the US forces and the German Oberkommando. It also shares a map pool with regular Company of Heroes 2, meaning whether you own either or both you can be automatched onto any of the maps alongside any army. Owners of The Western Front Armies are able to play the new armies, each with new weapons, infantry, vehicles and upgrades, as well as create custom games on the new maps.

Company of Heroes 2: The Western Front Armies will cost 15 / $20.

May 8, 2014
Company of Heroes 2: The Western Front Armies pre-order starts today
Company of Heroes 2 - Relic_Noun
<img alt="Company of Heroes 2: The Western Front Armies" src="http://blogs.companyofheroes.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/COH2_Armies_ForestPersuit.jpg" width="593" height="333" />

Since announcing <em>Company of Heroes 2: The Western Front Armies</em> fan excitement has been incredibly high. Last week we started the process of collecting applications for a closed Alpha test of the new US Forces and Oberkommando West factions and within a few hours reached our goal of 5,000 applications.

Today we’re happy to announce that we have started taking pre-orders for the new factions.

For $19.99 USD you’ll get both the US Forces and the Oberkommando West factions for <em>Company of Heroes 2</em>. As stand-alone additions to the game these factions will give you access to the <em>CoH2</em> multiplayer experience, without requiring you to own the base game.

For pre-ordering you’ll get the following bonus content:
<ul>
<li>2 new vehicle skins (1 per faction) - applicable to all weight classes</li>
<li>2 faceplates (1 per faction)</li>
</ul>
Everyone on the Company of Heroes 2 team is hard at work finishing up the armies for our June 24th launch. We can’t wait to have fans around the world play these exciting new armies. As always we’re grateful for your continued support.

Pre-Order <em>Company of Heroes 2: The Western Front Armies</em> <a title="Company of Heroes 2 - The Western Front Armies" href="http://store.steampowered.com/app/260309/">here</a>.
May 8, 2014
Pre-Purchase Now - Company of Heroes 2 - The Western Front Armies
Company of Heroes 2 - Valve
Pre-Purchase Company of Heroes 2 - The Western Front Armies, all new content for Company of Heroes 2, now on Steam!

Company of Heroes 2: The Western Front Armies is the first Standalone Multiplayer release for Company of Heroes 2. The focus shifts back to the Western Front, depicting some of the most brutal fighting of World War II in the darkest days of the conflict. The addition of the US Forces and the German Oberkommando West brings two entirely unique factions that will forever change the shape of multiplayer combat.

Each Army has distinctive tactical gameplay options, new infantry, team weapons, vehicles, abilities and upgrades on a total of eight seasonal multiplayer maps set on the Western Front. The Western Front Armies also includes an extended progression system that introduces other unique content into the game and enables players to dive deeper into the tactical and strategic aspects of the game than ever before.

The Western Front Armies will be available as a stand-alone package that represents an entry point into the franchise and access to the vibrant Company of Heroes 2 community. New players can also access 23 existing Company of Heroes 2 maps in auto-match, and play against all other existing factions.

May 1, 2014
Help us test Company of Heroes 2: The Western Front Armies
Company of Heroes 2 - Relic_Noun
<img alt="Company of Heroes 2: The Western Front Armies" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3731/13472420415_4f3cea0fe0_o.jpg" width="593" height="333" />

&nbsp;

As we move closer to the release of <i>Company of Heroes 2: The Western Front Armies</i> we’ve reached a point in the development process where we find it invaluable to have an outside perspective on what we’ve been working so hard on and there’s nobody better to give that perspective than the fans who know the game so well. Today we are inviting you to apply for a chance to play in the Alpha of <i>Company of Heroes 2: The Western Front Armies</i>.

To be clear this is unfinished Alpha software, and not the polished and completed game that we will be releasing this summer. There will be parts of the game that are still a work-in-progress, and you may experience more bugs and crashes than when playing fully completed software.

Taking part in this Alpha Test will also require you to agree to a Non-Disclosure Agreement. This means that while we encourage you to share your feedback with the development team in a specified forum you won’t be able to discuss the Alpha outside of that forum and won’t be allowed to share images or video from the Alpha anywhere else.

If you do want to be one of the first people to get to play <i>Company of Heroes 2: The Western Front Armies </i>and provide invaluable feedback to the development team to help us improve and polish these two brand new factions for CoH2, then please apply to join the Alpha.

We will be accepting people into the Alpha in waves and we appreciate your patience as we ramp up.

For your chance to join the <i>Company of Heroes 2: The Western Front Armies</i> Alpha Test <a href='#' id='prefinery_apply_link'>APPLY NOW!</a>

<script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.prefinery.com/javascripts/widget2.js"></script> <script type='text/javascript' charset='utf-8'> var prefinery_apply_options = { account: "relic", beta_id: "4420", link_id: "prefinery_apply_link", link_class: "prefinery_apply", version: 2 }; Prefinery.apply(prefinery_apply_options); </script>
Apr 25, 2014
Company of Heroes 2 is free to try and cheap to buy this weekend
Company of Heroes 2
Company of Heroes 2


If Company of Heroes 2 has popped into your Steam account, don't panic, it's not a brazen stealth annexation on Sega's part, but the start of a free weekend for Relic's intense real time strategy. The game earned a plump score of 80 in our review, and is a good bet if you enjoy air strikes and LOUD ANGRY WAR NOISE.

The game will enjoy a 66% discount until Monday 6pm GMT / 11am PDT / 2pm EDT, hours after the free weekend ends at 9pm GMT / 2pm PDT / 5pm EDT on Sunday. The free weekend's happening to mark Elbe day, the first contact between US and Russian forces during the twilight days of World War 2. It might also introduce players to CoH 2's multiplayer mode ahead of the upcoming Western Front Armies expansion, which will add the US army and the German Oberkommando in June.

It's been a good week for fans of World War 2 games. The excellent Red Orchestra 2 was given away for free earlier in the week, and its standalone expansion Rising Storm is 75% off until Monday.
Apr 24, 2014
Company of Heroes 2 Steam Free Weekend
Company of Heroes 2 - Relic_Noun
<a href="http://blogs.companyofheroes.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/smokey_village.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-245" alt="Smokey Village" src="http://blogs.companyofheroes.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/smokey_village.jpg" width="614" height="436" /></a>

This weekend new troops are being sent to the Eastern Front as <em>Company of Heroes 2</em> is having a <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/agecheck/app/231430/">Steam Free Weekend</a>.

Starting today and running until Sunday April 27th all Steam members will be able to play <em>Company of Heroes 2</em> for free. No conditions, no catches, it’s the full Company of Heroes 2 experience and it’s a click away for all Steam members. Players will be able to experience the full single-player campaign, the single player and of course the <em>CoH2</em> multiplayer.

Just in time to play with our new free Commanders released in the <a title="Letter from the Producer: Elbe Day Update" href="http://blogs.companyofheroes.com/2014/04/24/greg-producer-post/">Elbe Day Update</a>.

Have a friend who you think would love <em>Company of Heroes 2</em>? This is the weekend to get them playing the game. And as an added bonus the game will be <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/agecheck/app/231430/">66% off on Steam</a>, allowing everyone who loves playing it for free to keep it for a very low price.

Welcome to <em>Company of Heroes 2</em>, we’ll see you on the front lines.
Apr 24, 2014
Company of Heroes 2 Steam Free Weekend
Company of Heroes 2 - noun


This weekend new troops are being sent to the Eastern Front as Company of Heroes 2 is having a Steam Free Weekend.

Starting today and running until Sunday April 27th all Steam members will be able to play Company of Heroes 2 for free. No conditions, no catches, it’s the full Company of Heroes 2 experience and it’s a click away for all Steam members. Players will be able to experience the full single-player campaign, the single player and of course the CoH2 multiplayer.

Just in time to play with our new free Commanders released in the Elbe Day Update.

Have a friend who you think would love Company of Heroes 2? This is the weekend to get them playing the game. And as an added bonus the game will be 66% off on Steam, allowing everyone who loves playing it for free to keep it for a very low price.

Welcome to Company of Heroes 2, we’ll see you on the front lines.
Apr 24, 2014
Free Weekend - Company of Heroes 2, 66%
Company of Heroes 2 - Valve
Play Company of Heroes 2 for FREE starting now through Sunday at 1PM Pacific Time. You can also pickup Company of Heroes 2 at 66% off the regular price!*

If you already have Steam installed, click here to install or play Company of Heroes 2. If you don't have Steam, you can download it here.

*Offer ends Monday at 10AM Pacific Time
Apr 24, 2014
Letter from the Producer: Elbe Day Update
Company of Heroes 2 - Relic_Noun
<a href="http://blogs.companyofheroes.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/elbe-day-photo.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-388 " alt="Soviet troops and US Forces meet near the Elbe River." src="http://blogs.companyofheroes.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/elbe-day-photo-1024x788.jpg" width="574" height="442" /></a>

&nbsp;

April 25th 1945 marked the meeting of the Eastern and Western Fronts at Torgau on the Elbe river approximately 140km southwest of Berlin. The Soviet Army, covering hundreds of kilometers in the final few months of the war had pushed their way past and around Berlin, where they finally linked up with the Western Allied forces rapidly moving east from the beaches of Normandy and the forests of Belgium. While mostly symbolic, the meeting was an important reminder of the vital alliance between the Allied forces that helped end German aggression and finally bring to an end nearly 6 years of war in Europe.

To commemorate Elbe Day, we’re releasing two new Commanders, and they’re free for all players.  Each of the Commanders introduces a preview unit from the upcoming release of <em>Company of Heroes 2: The Western Front Armies</em>.

The <b>Soviet Lend Lease Commander</b> calls in an iconic Sherman tank to the battlefield. The Sherman was the primary battle tank used by the Western Allies and one of several vehicles the Soviet army had access to through the Lend Lease program with the United States.

The <b>German Mobile Defense Doctrine</b> <b>Commander</b> calls in the mobile Puma, an armored car equipped with a 50mm canon. The Puma is an 8 wheel vehicle whose speed and versatility made it ideal for scouting and reconnaissance missions.

In addition to the free Commanders , we are also releasing the Elbe Day Update containing a number of balance changes and game improvements to help us build momentum towards the June release of <em>Company of Heroes 2: The Western Front Armies</em>.

The studio is excited to share our vision for the next phase of<em> Company of Heroes 2</em>, and are pleased we can offer you this sneak peak of two units from the Western Front.

Stay tuned for more details on the Western Front Armies in the coming weeks.

- Greg Wilson, Executive Producer <em>Company of Heroes 2</em>
Apr 24, 2014
Letter from the Producer: Elbe Day Update
Company of Heroes 2 - noun


&nbsp;

April 25th 1945 marked the meeting of the Eastern and Western Fronts at Torgau on the Elbe river approximately 140km southwest of Berlin. The Soviet Army, covering hundreds of kilometers in the final few months of the war had pushed their way past and around Berlin, where they finally linked up with the Western Allied forces rapidly moving east from the beaches of Normandy and the forests of Belgium. While mostly symbolic, the meeting was an important reminder of the vital alliance between the Allied forces that helped end German aggression and finally bring to an end nearly 6 years of war in Europe.

To commemorate Elbe Day, we’re releasing two new Commanders, and they’re free for all players.  Each of the Commanders introduces a preview unit from the upcoming release of Company of Heroes 2: The Western Front Armies.

The Soviet Lend Lease Commander calls in an iconic Sherman tank to the battlefield. The Sherman was the primary battle tank used by the Western Allies and one of several vehicles the Soviet army had access to through the Lend Lease program with the United States.

The German Mobile Defense Doctrine Commander calls in the mobile Puma, an armored car equipped with a 50mm canon. The Puma is an 8 wheel vehicle whose speed and versatility made it ideal for scouting and reconnaissance missions.

In addition to the free Commanders , we are also releasing the Elbe Day Update containing a number of balance changes and game improvements to help us build momentum towards the June release of Company of Heroes 2: The Western Front Armies.

The studio is excited to share our vision for the next phase of Company of Heroes 2, and are pleased we can offer you this sneak peak of two units from the Western Front.

Stay tuned for more details on the Western Front Armies in the coming weeks.

- Greg Wilson, Executive Producer Company of Heroes 2
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