The delayed release of a game is always disappointing for both players and developers alike, but even worse is when a game is pushed for release when it’s not ready. You just have to look at how quickly Anthem fell away due to not having promised features, and how problematic the launch of Cyberpunk 2077 was, once again, missing features, but also packed with near-game-breaking bugs.

I know the outcome I’d prefer, and it seems that Relic Entertainment, together with the publisher, SEGA, are in agreeance, and the release of Company of Heroes 3 has been pushed back to February 2023.

The latest instalment in the highly acclaimed Company of Heroes franchise, Company of Heroes 3 looks to be their best yet, and MKAU Gaming was invited to take part in a preview event hosted by Relic Entertainment and SEGA, which also came with some limited access to the current build and allowed us to take part in sections of two campaigns and some PVP/AI games on a selection of Maps, although we were also able to test out all four playable factions, and each has been updated based on community feedback during previous test phases.

The newest and most anticipated faction is the Deutsches Afrika Korps – The German mechanised forces sent to bolster the Italian defensive lines during the North African campaign of World War II. As a mechanised force, they focus heavily on light vehicles and support weapons during the initial stages of combat before bringing on the heavier armoured vehicles to finish off their foe.

This is combined with the more elite Panzergrandier infantry, some of the strongest infantry in the game, who can quickly and easily take and hold objectives, and the ability to call in the Italian Bersaglieri marksmen.

The British Forces return as the easiest faction to learn out of the box, featuring a simpler tech tree than the other factions and more streamlined units to control. They’re also probably the most versatile faction in the game, making use of heavy machine gun emplacements and semi-mobile anti-tank weapons, as well as infantry sections that can be upgraded to take on a variety of roles, such as anti-tank rifles and Bren light machine guns for infantry support.

Of course, it wouldn’t be the British Commonwealth without pulling units from around the world, so you’ll also have access to a variety of other specialists.

The Wehrmacht are the ultimate bad guys, the main German forces, and they’re probably the most defensive army in the game, and thanks to community feedback, they’ve been given some extra tools to help them break through enemy lines, featuring the return of MG42s and STuGs, but additional weapons like the Flak 30.

They’re one of the more involved when it comes to their tech tree though, as it will offer more choices between building, unlocking units, or upgrading existing ones.

Finally, the US Forces make a return once more, and they’re expected to maintain that more classic feel from the previous iterations of Company of Heroes. They’ll feature more flexible infantry, aggressive light vehicles, and a variety of tanks to change the course of battle.

As units become veterans of the campaign, they’ll have the option to choose a Veteran ability, helping them to become more effective in certain ways, but without the downsides of specialised units, and they’ll be supported by new infantry and mobile rocket artillery.

The preview predominately focused on the multiplayer PVP side of things with 1v1 and 2v2 modes available to try out. 1v1 saw us fighting through the map, Gardens, set in Italy, and 2v2 saw us playing on Campbell’s Convoy, a North African-based map.

Unfortunately, due to international time restrictions, I wasn’t able to take part in matched online play, however, I could still play against AI, and the battles were brutal, with Gardens featuring some beautiful European countryside and destroyed Italian towns, whereas Campbell’Convoys was fought over dusty African plains and small villages, but both maps provided a lot of cover for our units or destroyed to deny the enemy.

The preview also gave us access to a small portion of the Italian Dynamic campaign, featuring an amazing 3D map and some gorgeous 3D models to capture sections of the map, including naval and aerial support, before taking part in RTS-style battles to capture objectives. The plan for this one is to develop your own story over the course of the game. In contrast, the North African operation is much more linear in play, though it features a specific story complete with cinematics for those who would rather the story-driven campaign, and it offers an absolutely beautiful experience already, even if it is still in development.

Finally, they’re expecting to have full mod support on release, giving players and modders alike the ability to create their own scenarios and make modifications to existing units, maps, and tech-trees. You’ll be able to hand-craft maps, change the time of day or carve rivers through towns, adjust the damage output of units, modify the faction tech trees, and much more, effectively giving you infinite possibilities and unlimited gameplay.

So, while it is frustrating that they missed the November 17 2022 release date, with all of the extra features coming to the game, and the fact that they want to release it as polished as possible, it makes sense that they need a few extra months.

Player feedback has been a huge driving force behind this project, and it’s great to see that Relic Entertainment has taken it on board, making the changes players are wanting, and constantly communicating with them during the process.

Written by: Mathew Lindner