Company of Heroes 3

{{Infobox video game

| title = Company of Heroes 3

| image = Company of Heroes 3 Cover Art.jpg

| publisher = Sega

| engine = Essence Engine 5.0{{Cite web|first=Dean|last=Takahashi|date=July 13, 2021|title=Company of Heroes 3 hands-on: Kicking the Germans out of Italy|url=https://venturebeat.com/2021/07/13/relic-unveils-company-of-heroes-3-for-wwii-rts-fans-hands-on-preview/|language=en|access-date=2021-08-11|website=VentureBeat}}

| modes = Single-player, multiplayer

| platforms = {{ubl|Windows|PlayStation 5|Xbox Series X/S}}

| released = Windows
February 23, 2023
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
May 30, 2023

| director = {{ubl|David Littman}}

| producer = {{ubl|David Littman}}

| designer = {{ubl|Andrew Denault|Matt Phillip|Sacha Narine}}

| artist = {{ubl|Tristan Brett|Patrick Lopetrone|Christine Hubbard}}

| writer = {{ubl|Philip Harris}}

| composer = {{ubl|Tilman Sillescu|Benny Oschmann}}

}}

Company of Heroes 3 is a real-time strategy game developed by Relic Entertainment and published by Sega for Windows. A sequel to Company of Heroes 2, the game features new mechanics and modes and is set in the Italian and North African theaters of World War II.

Gameplay

In Company of Heroes 3, the players take the role of Allied Forces during their invasion of Italy and Axis forces in the North African campaign.{{Cite web|last=Brown|first=Fraser|date=2021-07-13|title=Everything we know about Company of Heroes 3|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/everything-we-know-about-company-of-heroes-3/|access-date=2021-08-10|website=PC Gamer|language=en-US}}

The game has features new to the series such as the Tactical Pause system, which allows the player to pause a battle and queue up commands to be done after the game is resumed.{{Cite web|last=Hafer|first=Leana|date=2021-07-13|title=Company of Heroes 3: The First Preview|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/company-of-heroes-3-the-first-preview|access-date=2021-08-11|website=IGN|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Brown|first=Fraser|date=2021-07-15|title=Company of Heroes 3's tactical pause system is a game-changer for real-time strategy|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/company-of-heroes-3s-tactical-pause-system-is-a-game-changer-for-real-time-strategy/|access-date=2021-08-10|website=PC Gamer|language=en-US}} Company of Heroes 3 also has an improved destruction system that gives the title more granular destruction, such as individual tiles and bricks crumbling off buildings.{{Cite web|last=Brown|first=Fraser|date=2021-07-14|title=Company of Heroes 3 makes destruction an art form|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/company-of-heroes-3-makes-destruction-an-art-form/|access-date=2021-08-10|website=PC Gamer|language=en-US}} Italian Partisans are allied NPCs that can either be used on the map or be called in during battles.{{Cite news|date=2021-07-13|title=Hands on with Company Of Heroes 3, which could almost be Total War: WW2|language=en|work=Rock Paper Shotgun|url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/company-of-heroes-3-preview-pre-alpha-hands-on|access-date=2021-08-11|first=Nate|last=Crowley}} The story is dynamic, and the player's interactions with the game's various commanders can affect the narrative's ending.{{Cite web|title=Company of Heroes 3 (for PC) Preview|url=https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/company-of-heroes-3-for-pc|access-date=2021-08-11|date=2021-07-21|website=PC Magazine|language=en-GB|first=Mike|last=Williams}}

Development

Relic Entertainment led the game's development. The team chose the Mediterranean theatre as the setting allowed the inclusion of a variety of environments, which is a feature frequently requested by players of older games. In addition, the team added that the Italian areas in the game offered "broader palette for environmental gameplay" and players can make use of verticality of the maps to plan their moves and attacks.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/en_asia/news/gaming-news/company-of-heroes-3-dev-diary-dives-into-the-mediterranean-theatre-3087501|title='Company Of Heroes 3' dev diary dives into the Mediterranean theatre|first=Andy|last=Brown|work=NME|date=November 4, 2021|accessdate=November 16, 2021}}

At the beginning of development, the studio recruited modders and competitive players to form a player council. The council worked with Relic during preproduction to determine what the new entry should focus on mechanically and where the game should take place. The executive producer commented on how it was chosen: "And we all agreed that we wanted a new theatre, we didn't want to revisit the Western Front or the Eastern Front. So really, the only two things left were the Mediterranean and Pacific. We put them both on the board, and it was just 10-0. Mediterranean over Pacific." Player testing for Company of Heroes 3 started in prior to the official announcement through Amplitude's Games2Gether program.{{Cite web|last=Brown|first=Fraser|date=2021-07-13|title=Fans have been playing Company of Heroes 3 for years|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/fans-have-been-playing-company-of-heroes-3-for-years/|access-date=2021-08-04|website=PC Gamer|language=en-US}} A demo for the game was available for a limited time shortly after the announcement.{{Cite web|last=Hall|first=Charlie|date=2021-07-13|title=Company of Heroes 3 sends the war to the Mediterranean, and you can play it today|url=https://www.polygon.com/22569959/company-of-heroes-3-demo-trailer-announcement-release-date-price-pause-italy-africa|access-date=2021-08-11|website=Polygon|language=en}}

The game was officially announced for Windows by Relic and publisher Sega in July 2021.{{Cite web|title=Company of Heroes 3 Announced|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/company-of-heroes-3-announced-relic-sega-2022-release-date|first=Leana|last=Hafer|date=July 14, 2021|accessdate=November 16, 2021}} It was originally set to be released on November 17, 2022,{{Cite web |last=Romano |first=Sal |date=2022-07-12 |title=Company of Heroes 3 launches November 17 |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2022/07/company-of-heroes-3-launches-november-17 |access-date=2022-07-12 |website=Gematsu |language=en-US}} but it was delayed to February 23, 2023.{{cite web|title=Company Of Heroes 3 Delayed To February 23, 2023|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/company-of-heroes-3-delayed-to-february-23-2023/1100-6507994/|website=GameSpot|first=Darryn|last=Bonthuys|date=October 4, 2022|access-date=October 4, 2022}} Versions for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S were announced during The Game Awards 2022.{{cite web |last1=Makuch |first1=Eddie |title=Company Of Heroes 3 Confirmed For Console, Coming 2023 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/company-of-heroes-3-confirmed-for-console-coming-2023/1100-6509903/ |website=GameSpot |date=December 8, 2022 |access-date=February 17, 2023}}

In August 2022, the Polish toy company Cobi announced that they acquired a license with Relic Entertainment to publish North Africa and Italy themed brick sets.{{cite web |title=Premiera nowej kolekcji COBI już 26 października! |url=https://cobi.pl/informacje/info/art,335,premiera-nowej-kolekcji-cobi-juz-26-pazdziernika.html |website=Cobi.pl |access-date=21 December 2022 |language=Polish |date=30 August 2022}} On April 13, 2023, it was announced that the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S versions of game would release on May 30, 2023.{{cite web|title=Company Of Heroes 3 Is Deploying Onto PS5 And Xbox Series X{{!}}S In May|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/company-of-heroes-3-is-deploying-onto-ps5-and-xbox-series-x-s-in-may/1100-6513250/|website=GameSpot|first=Darryn|last=Bonthuys|date=April 13, 2023|access-date=April 13, 2023}}

Reception

{{Video game reviews

| MC = PC: 81/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/company-of-heroes-3/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Company of Heroes 3 for PC Reviews|website=Metacritic |accessdate=February 20, 2023}}
PS5: 70/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/company-of-heroes-3/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-5 |title=Company of Heroes 3 for PlayStation 5 Reviews|website=Metacritic |accessdate=February 20, 2023}}
XSX: 79/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/company-of-heroes-3/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-series-x |title=Company of Heroes 3 for Xbox Series X Reviews|website=Metacritic |accessdate=February 20, 2023}}

| Fam = 29/40{{Cite web |last=Romano |first=Sal |date=2023-06-21 |title=Famitsu Review Scores: Issue 1802 |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2023/06/famitsu-review-scores-issue-1802 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230614154035/https://www.gematsu.com/2023/06/famitsu-review-scores-issue-1802 |archive-date=2023-06-14 |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=Gematsu |language=en-US}}

| IGN = 6/10{{cite web |last=Bolding |first=Jon |date=February 20, 2023 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/company-of-heroes-3-review-single-player-campaigns |title=Company of Heroes 3 Review - Single-Player Campaigns |website=IGN |accessdate=February 20, 2023}}

| NME = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite web |last=Tucker |first=Jake |date=February 20, 2023 |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/game-reviews/company-of-heroes-3-review-3401525 |title='Company of Heroes 3' review: this is the thing war is good for |website=NME |accessdate=February 20, 2023}}

| PCGUS = 82/100{{cite web |last=Brown |first=Fraser |date=February 20, 2023 |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/company-of-heroes-3-review/ |title=Company of Heroes 3 review |website=PC Gamer |accessdate=February 20, 2023}}

| PCGN = 7/10{{cite web |last=Boudreau |first=Ian |date=February 20, 2023 |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/company-of-heroes-3/review |title=Company of Heroes 3 review – tanks for the memories |website=PCGamesN |accessdate=February 20, 2023}}

| SN = 8/10{{cite web |last=Broadwell |first=Josh |date=February 20, 2023 |url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/134252/company-of-heroes-3-review-score |title=Company of Heroes 3 review: They had a good war |website=Shacknews |accessdate=February 20, 2023}}

| TA = {{Rating|4|5}}{{Cite web |date=2023-03-13 |title='Company of Heroes 3' Steam Deck Review – Better than Day One – TouchArcade |url=https://toucharcade.com/2023/03/13/company-of-heroes-3-steam-deck-review-multiplayer-patches-pc-relic-sega/ |access-date=2023-06-22 |language=en-US}}

| PCG = 8/10{{Cite news |last=Dammes |first=Matthias |date=2023-02-23 |title=Company of Heroes 3 im Test: Ein intensives Echtzeitstrategie-Spiel alter Schule |language=de-DE |url=https://www.pcgames.de/Company-of-Heroes-3-Spiel-73393/Tests/Review-Video-Echtzeitstrategie-Weltkrieg-1414125/ |access-date=2023-10-26}}

}}

Company of Heroes 3 received "generally favorable" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic on the PC and Xbox Series X versions. The PlayStation 5 version received "mixed or average" reviews. The game was nominated for "Best Sim / Strategy Game" at The Game Awards 2023.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2023/gaming/news/game-awards-2023-nominations-alan-wake-baldurs-gate-full-list-1235787390/|title=The Game Awards 2023 Nominations: Alan Wake 2, Baldur's Gate 3 Lead the Pack With Eight Noms Each (Full List)|first=Todd|last=Spangler|work=Variety|date=November 13, 2023|accessdate=November 18, 2023}}

PC Gamer thought that the Italian campaign was "fundamentally broken", with AI lacking aggressiveness and the implementation of subcommanders which they described as "confused". PCGamesN felt that although the gameplay lacked innovation, it lived up to previous entries, "The central story missions don’t do a lot to innovate on what Company of Heroes 2 established almost a decade ago, but they’re a hell of a lot of fun". While feeling mixed on the North African campaign's portrayal of Erwin Rommel, Eurogamer enjoyed the game's bombastic spectacle, writing, "Everything can be blown to bits, which dovetails rather nicely with a campaign about shooting things with tanks".{{Cite news |date=2023-02-20 |title=Company of Heroes 3 review - supreme competency without a big innovation |language=en-gb |work=Eurogamer.net |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/company-of-heroes-3-review-supreme-competency-without-a-big-innovation |access-date=2023-02-23}}

IGN liked the set piece encounters of the Italian campaign, but criticized the overall experience, "Every decision on the campaign map is just so low-stakes that it just feels like a waste of time". Polygon praised the new active pause system, saying "it makes for a vastly more approachable game".{{Cite web |last=Mahardy |first=Mike |date=2023-02-20 |title=Company of Heroes 3 propels real-time strategy past the real-time part |url=https://www.polygon.com/reviews/23607125/company-of-heroes-3-review-factions-release-date-pc |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}} Rock Paper Shotgun felt that while some elements of the game were unpolished, the overall scope of the campaign made up for it "Still, the sheer breadth of what's on offer here in the Italian campaign is mightily impressive for a first attempt at this style of war gaming... it feels like precisely the sort of homecoming you'd want from this prodigal RTS series".{{Cite news |last=Castle |first=Katharine |date=2023-02-20 |title=Company Of Heroes 3 review: a glorious comeback for this WW2 RTS |language=en |work=Rock, Paper, Shotgun |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/company-of-heroes-3-review |access-date=2023-06-22}} Kotaku noted that Company of Heroes 3{{'}}s new setting proved a match for interesting tactical encounters, "In Italy the series has found an even better match between setting and gameplay".{{Cite web |date=2023-02-20 |title=Company Of Heroes 3: The Kotaku Review |url=https://kotaku.com/company-of-heroes-3-the-kotaku-review-1850110787 |access-date=2023-06-22 |website=Kotaku |language=en}}

TouchArcade wrote that the visuals proved inconsistent on a small screen but the overall gameplay remained intact, "As of its most recent patch, I’m very pleased with Company of Heroes 3 on Steam Deck, and you will find a lot to like here assuming you’re OK with the controls".{{Cite web |date=2023-03-13 |title='Company of Heroes 3' Steam Deck Review – Better than Day One – TouchArcade |url=https://toucharcade.com/2023/03/13/company-of-heroes-3-steam-deck-review-multiplayer-patches-pc-relic-sega/ |access-date=2023-06-22 |language=en-US}} NPR criticized the repetitiveness of the Italian campaign, but liked the co-op experiences possible in multiplayer, "Multiplayer gameplay is nothing like the methodical campaign skirmishes — it's fast, intense, and unrelenting".{{Cite web |last=Curley |first=Alex |date=February 20, 2023 |title='Company of Heroes 3' deserves a spot in any war game fan's library |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/02/20/1158011960/company-of-heroes-3-review |access-date=June 21, 2023 |website=NPR}}