Relic has revealed Company of Heroes 3 – and you can play it right now

Sega and Relic Entertainment have announced Company of Heroes 3, the latest instalment in the long-running RTS series.

The new game is set to release for PC in 2022, but fans can play a pre-alpha preview version today via Steam.

“Company of Heroes 3 is bringing the series’ intimate boots-on-the-ground storytelling to a brand-new theatre of war, unlocking authentic new tactics, factions, and a wealth of untold stories from World War II,” the game’s synopsis reads.

“The Mediterranean is a place of immense variety, from windswept Italian mountain passes to harsh North African deserts and coastal vistas. On this new frontline, intelligence trumps speed.”

Company of Heroes 3 is powered by the Essence Engine 5, the latest evolution of Relic’s proprietary RTS tech, and it will feature a dynamic campaign map in which players command ground, air and naval forces and build supply lines as they lead the Allies’ campaign to retake mainland Italy.

Meanwhile in single-player modes, Full Tactical Pause is a new feature that allows players to freeze the action and coordinate their next move without the pressure of having to do it in real-time.

“We’re really excited for players to experience Company of Heroes 3 right from the pre-alpha stage and to receive their valuable feedback,” said Justin Dowdeswell, General Manager at Relic Entertainment.

“We’ve been co-developing the game with some of our fantastic community members for years now, and they have been instrumental in providing consistent and meaningful feedback at every step of the development process.

“We are ready to expand that program in a massive way with our fans around the world via our CoH-Development program, which has been made possible by Amplitude Studios’ superb Games2Gether platform.”