Company of Heroes is a real-time strategy game developed by Relic Entertainment and published by THQ, released on September 12, 2006 for PC. Set during the Normandy campaign of World War II, the game follows American forces from the D-Day landings through the liberation of France. It received critical acclaim on release and held a Metacritic score of 93 at launch.
Unlike most RTS games of its era, Company of Heroes built its systems around squad-based tactics, cover mechanics, and destructible environments rather than resource extraction and base building. Units seek cover automatically, terrain features like hedgerows and ruined walls provide defensive advantages, and artillery and tank fire permanently deforms the battlefield. The combination gave the game a significantly more dynamic feel than contemporaries.
Two standalone expansions followed: Opposing Fronts in 2007, adding British and Panzer Elite factions, and Tales of Valor in 2009, adding three short campaign vignettes. The game built a substantial modding community over the years, with player-created content remaining active decades after release.
Publisher THQ filed for bankruptcy in 2012. Sega acquired the Company of Heroes IP as part of its purchase of Relic Entertainment in 2013. A sequel, Company of Heroes 2, released in 2013. Company of Heroes 3 followed in 2023. The original game was later ported to Mac, iOS, Android, and Nintendo Switch. A Definitive Edition remaster by Relic and Blackbird Interactive was announced for PC in Fall 2026, upgrading the game to 64-bit with enhanced visuals and full compatibility for the existing mod catalogue.
