Company of Heroes 3 Update 2.5.0 Will Add Maps and Rework Infantry Combat

Company of Heroes 3 update 2.5.0 will be available on July 29 at 10am PT. Relic Entertainment’s large patch adds two maps, refreshes the multiplayer lobby, changes infantry combat and cover, adjusts all four factions, and supports the launch of the standalone Final Stand mode.

The update is aimed at reducing the impact of massed infantry, with changes to formations, suppression, cover durability, weapon targeting, and area-of-effect damage. Relic said the work will continue in update 3.0 in October, which will focus more closely on massed vehicle play. The full announcement and changelog are available in the official Steam patch notes.

Final Stand arrives alongside update 2.5.0

Company of Heroes 3: Final Stand is a standalone wave-defense experience for solo and co-op play. Players will build defenses, survive 12 increasingly difficult enemy waves, and face dynamic battlefield events and bosses across multiple Battlegrounds.

The mode features forces from the Wehrmacht, US Forces, British Forces, and Deutsches Afrikakorps. During its launch period, Final Stand will be available with a 10% discount. Company of Heroes 3 owners will receive a bonus 20% discount.

Two new maps join every mode

Butcher & Bolt is a new 1vs1 night-time desert map. Players will begin close to their opponent’s HQ, while the resources on the outer flanks reward carefully timed attacks.

Across the Savio is a 3vs3 map built around three layers of terrain. Players will fight across the lowlands near the river, central fortifications, and farmland on higher ground. Community map makers DutchToast and Foolish Viceroy restored the battlefield, which was originally introduced in Company of Heroes 2’s British Forces DLC.

The patch also adjusts several existing maps. White Barracks buildings now use correct death states, large fuel tanks block shots until destroyed, and Oliveto Citra, Djebel Pass, Pisa Centrale, Alam el Halfa, and Castello della Nebbia receive movement, cover, sightline, or object changes.

Lobby and multiplayer changes

Players can now choose Battlegroups from a dropdown without leaving the lobby in Skirmish, Co-op vs. A.I., Quick Match, and Custom Games. A new More Info option still provides access to the full Battlegroup tech trees.

Empty Battlegroup slots can restrict the choices available to A.I. players, while improved decorators make garrisoned and sub-selected units easier to identify. Vehicle pathing also receives several fixes, including smoother rapid movement commands and better navigation around obstacles.

The wider balance pass is focused on making infantry positioning and tactical control more important. Cover is more durable, exposed infantry is more vulnerable to targeting and suppression, and several weapons are less effective against protected units.

Company of Heroes 3 2.5.0 Patch Notes

The update includes faction balance changes, system adjustments, bug fixes, and known issues that Relic is still investigating.

Multiplayer

• Vehicles that are already reversing no longer overly favor reversing when a new move order is given in front of them
• Smoother rapid movement commands – issuing movement orders in quick succession should no longer cause slowdowns or jitter
• Smarter navigation around obstacles – vehicles now make better decisions when turning near or around movement blockers
• Direction and position of the squad is now always determined by a model at the front of the squad, rather than the back/center
• Most squads have had their formation tightened by 0.5 – 1 in-game meters
• Infantry squad members will now prefer to focus on the closest enemy squad member directly in front of them when they engage infantry
• Infantry rifles no longer re-roll their target to pick the next best target in a targeted squad
• Infantry small arms no longer take over-penetration into account when firing on enemies
• Out of Combat suppression recovery bonus now only applies if the squad is not being fired on
• Axis HMG penetration increased from 1.3/1.2/1.1 to 2.25/1.75/1.6
• Allied HMG penetration increased from 1.6/1.4/1.2 to 2.5/2.25/1.75
• 50cal HMG damage modifier against light vehicles increased from 0.25 to 0.35
• HMG accuracy against units in cover reduced from 50% to 60%
• Damage penalty against heavy and garrison cover increased from 40% to 50%
• The weapon no longer counts towards the damage limit against area of effect weapons
• Capture speeds sped up from 45 to 30 for +16 munitions points
• Capture speed sped up from 15 seconds to 12.5 for +5 munition points
• Mortar manpower cost reduced from 260 to 240
• 250 mortar upgrade cost reduced from 75 to 60
• Mortar High Explosive barrage cooldown increased from 0.5 to 0.625
• Now has +200% weapon penetration against sandbags
• Now has +200% weapon penetration against team weapons
• Light Artillery angle scatter increased from 6 to 10
• Light Artillery distance scatter max increased from 5 to 11.25
• Light Artillery scatter ratio increased from 0.05 to 0.1125
• Light Artillery barrages now gain +33% scatter accuracy each time the weapon fires
• Veterancy required per rank from 1000/3000/6000 to 1100/3300/6600
• Veterancy Rank 3 rate of fire bonus decreased from 30% to 25%
• Manpower recovery from 25 to 20
• Direct-fire and autocannon vehicles standardized to 1.25 movement distance scatter max
• Lobbed projectiles retain 1.5 movement distance scatter max
• If a target would gain directional or area cover bonuses against a firing unit, cover damage reduction modifiers will now take affect for both direct hits, splash damage, and suppression damage
• Heavy cover map objects armor increased from 25 to 35
• Large objects (pre-wrecked vehicles) have 600 health
• Medium objects (pre-placed sandbag walls) have 300 health
• Small objects (stone walls) have 300 health
• Light cover map objects armor standardized to 25
• Decoration objects have below 200 health
• Cover objects have a minimum of 200 health
• Flattened building ruins now more consistently provide heavy cover to infantry and team weapons that enter them
• Crush type changed from medium to light
• Veterancy 1: +25% rate of fire
• Veterancy 2: +20% ability range, +20% scatter accuracy
• Veterancy 3: +60 HP, +20% Ability Recharge speed, Unique bonus
• Deals 25% less damage against vehicles
• Area of effect distance lowered from 2 to 1.5
• On longer cover pieces that allow for it, the squads spacing has been increased to prevent the squad from stacking
• Units paradropping can be targeted and killed
• Satchel Charges no longer start on cooldown for paradropping units
• Healing range reduced from 20 to 15
• Far aim-time sped up from 2 to 1.75
• Removed bonus damage against mines
• End-game off-map recharge increased from 120 to 180 seconds
• Gain +35% construction speed at Veterancy 2

US Forces

• Survival Training
• Double Sortie
• Rapid Repairs
• Locked behind Support Center
• Research time sped up from 60 to 30
• Steady Fire set-up time reduced from 7 to 5 seconds
• Sprint now costs 15 munitions
• Build time sped up from 30 to 25 seconds
• Accuracy increased from 0.49/0.38/0.34 to 0.539/0.419/0.375
• Veterancy 2 now provides the following: 20% rate of fire, 20% ability range
• Veterancy 3 now provides the following: 15% recharge speed, 30% rate of fire, +6 additional rockets
• Front armor reduced from 320 to 300
• Fuel cost increased from 100 to 110
• Recharge time increased from 45 seconds to 120
• Munition cost increased from 50 to 60
• Now grants 480 health from 360
• Command Point cost reduced from 3 to 2
• SSF Knife throw deals 100% extra damage when thrown from camouflage/recently attacking from camo within 4 seconds
• Knife throw range increased from 15 to 18
• Carbine fire aim-time sped up from 0.375/0.625 to 0.25/0.5
• Carbine cooldown sped up from 0.5/1 to 0.375/0.875
• Received damage penalty reduced from 50% to 25%
• Veterancy 1 replaced with +25% weapon traverse speed
• Speed increased from 5.3 to 5.5

Wehrmacht

• Manpower cost reduced from 100 to 80
• Research time increased from 45 to 60
• Fuel cost increased from 25 to 35
• Accuracy increased from 0.42/0.3/0.24 to 0.442/0.3/0.24
• Weapon cooldown reduced from 2/2.5 to 1.75/2
• Build time increased from 12 to 18
• Manpower cost reduced from 260 to 250
• Accuracy increased from 0.75/0.656/0.6475 to 0.75/0.69/0.68
• Sprint now costs 15 munitions
• Panzerschreck cost reduced from 90 to 80
• Clearing Gear Rifle Grenade cost lowered from 40 to 35
• Crew health reduced from 105 to 100
• Fuel cost increased from 30 to 35
• Armor reduced from 20/15/10 to 12/12/10
• Machine Gun penetration increased from 1/1/1 to 2/1.75/1.5
• Front armor reduced from 12.5 to 9.5
• Stummel can now fire on the move
• Manpower cost reduced from 360 to 340
• Fire aim time removed
• Wind down and wind up changed from 0.3/1.45 to 0.375/1.375
• Manpower cost from 210 to 200
• Reinforce cost from 35 to 34
• Health increased from 95 to 100
• No longer does bonus damage against infantry in garrisons
• Build time increased from 30 to 45
• Veterancy requirements increased from 900/2700/5400 to 1100/330/6600
• Health reduced from 400 to 360
• Rocket angle scatter reduced from 25 to 17.5
• Cost reduced from 260 to 250
• Oto Incendiary Anti-tank grenade now gains +40 damage at Veterancy 2
• Updated tool-tip to indicate the grenade can still also crew shock in addition to other effects
• Radius coverage reduced from 50 to 45
• Officer Quarters from Luftwaffe and Panzergrenadier Kompanie provides bonuses to these structures
• Recharge and attack speed bonus lowered from 25% to 15%
• Now competes against the Blitzkrieg ability as a tier 2 pick. Tiger is standalone
• Requires either Support Elements or Panzer Kompanie to be called in

British Forces

• Experience gain reduced from 800 to 600
• Cost increased from 150 manpower and 25 fuel to 200 manpower and 30 fuel
• Ability recharge bonus reduced from 25% to 15%
• Manpower cost reduced from 220 to 210
• Reinforce cost reduced from 29 to 27
• Accuracy increased from 0.075/0.0475/0.035 to 0.01/0.05/0.04
• SMG mid-range increased from 15 to 17.5
• SMG accuracy increased from 0.64/0.34/0.15 to 0.71/0.45/0.15
• Unlock fuel cost reduced from 40 to 20
• Plane arrival time sped up from 7 to 5
• 2 Pounder cost reduced from 60 to 30 munitions
• Retreating now interrupts Evasion
• Time to acquire targets sped up from 3 to 2 seconds; allows 4 targets max to be designated
• Strafing run flight arrival time sped up to 3 seconds
• Canadian Mortar now gives a grenade warning to the opponent when fired
• Fuel cost increased from 40 to 50
• Health per plane reduced from 3000 to 1500
• Munition cost increased from 50 to 65
• Frontal armor reduced from 185 to 160

Deutsches Afrikakorps

• Moved to a tier 1 pick and fuel cost has been removed
• Damage reduction removed
• Moved to a tier 2 pick and now has a 20 fuel cost added
• Replaced with Improved Base Logistics
• Allows the Light Support Kompanie to heal nearby infantry at 3.2 health per second
• Allows the Panzer Armee Kommand to repair nearby vehicles at 6 health per second
• 250 with Panzerjäger call-in removed
• Added 250 with Panzerpioneer call-in for 250 manpower
• Added 250 with MG 34 Team call-in for 275 manpower
• Standard rifle moving accuracy reduced from 0.75 to 0.6
• Field Supplies range reduced to 15 to match medical aura
• Field Supplies duration reduced from 60 to 45 seconds
• 40% ambush accuracy bonus replaced with +40% penetration
• Penetration bonus increased with Battlefield Espionage Ambush Training
• Manpower cost reduced from 280 to 260
• Support Advance reload penalty reduced from 50% to 25%
• Area of effect radius increased from 4 to 4.5
• Veterancy 1: +15% scatter accuracy
• Veterancy 2: +20% rate of fire, +50% rotation speed
• Veterancy 3: 20% Damage Reduction, +15% range (barrage and auto), +20% recharge speed
• Veterancy reworked
• Veterancy 1: 20% rotation rate
• Veterancy 2: 20% rate of fire, 25% weapon scatter
• Veterancy 3: +80 health, +30% rate of fire
• Veterancy 4: Unchanged
• Submachine Gun moving accuracy increased from 0.75 to 0.85
• Manpower cost reduced from 275 to 260
• Reinforce cost reduced from 32 to 30
• StG 44 Package cost increased from 40 to 50
• Veterancy 2 now provides the following: 20% rate of fire, 20% ability range
• Veterancy 3 now provides the following: 20% recharge speed, 30% rate of fire, 20% weapon scatter accuracy
• Arm time per mine sped up from 7.5 to 3.5 seconds
• Can now be fired at while paradropping down
• Vision reduced from 35 to 15
• Munition cost to transfer increased from 80 to 100
• Fuel cost to transfer increased from 40 to 50

Bug Fixes

• Improve high polling rate mouse input handling. This improve FPS while mouse panning and should mitigate the amount of hitches or performance blips on high polling rate mouses
• Updated breach requirements so it no longer works on fighting nest/position or tunnels
• 250 Halftrack, 251 Halftrack, and 6×6 Truck now unload transported units behind the vehicle instead of from the center, improving unit pathing and reducing deployment issues
• Tuned several projectile crater values to reduce the amount of yellow cover they create by around 30 – 50%.
• Vehicle flamethrowers now correctly damage units at height differentials
• Flak 30 anti-aircraft fire no longer damages infantry underneath targeted aircraft
• Fixed reverse-move commands occasionally being ignored immediately after unloading passengers
• Additional Anti-Tank-gun squad members now properly follow formation assignments
• A.I. infantry will now avoid using standard grenade abilities against vehicles
• Increased A.I. usage of dedicated anti-vehicle abilities
• Vehicles towing abandoned team weapons now display an Unload ability alongside Drop
• Improved towing position calculations to reduce trailer teleporting during pickup and movement
• Fixed an issue where towing could occasionally fail to attach to a target weapon
• Fixed Ranger Weapon Training Bazooka debuff not applying correctly against penetrated vehicles
• Fixed Gallant Stand being usable on HMG nests and fighting positions when it should not be
• Airborne Recon Loiter targeting indicators now accurately represent the vision area granted
• M3 75mm AT Halftrack no longer continues its barrage ability if it gets interrupted by a conversion to a different halftrack type like the M16 Motor Carriage.
• LG 40 now uses the correct voice-over lines
• Borgward Rocket Barrage can now fire without requiring line of sight
• Fixed an issue where Terror Battlegroup’s Jericho Trumpet could leave a permanent reveal-camouflage radius
• Siege Camp can no longer be cancelled incorrectly during construction
• Fixed an issue where Siege Camp recharge bonuses were not being applied correctly
• Into the Breach no longer affects retreating squads and can no longer target them
• Recovered LRDG Trucks now correctly respawn as LRDG Trucks
• Fixed Bersaglieri Urra! status duration visuals to correctly match the active buff duration
• Fixed an issue where the 250/9 Armored Half-track’s Hit and Run ability could be manually reactivated
• Fixed an issue where Panzerjäger squads using Plunder could fail to receive a Bazooka
• Kriegsmarine Hardpoints now properly block conflicting upgrade queues to prevent upgrades from cancelling one another
• Char B1 coaxial HMG now plays its firing animation correctly
• Adjusted Sturmtiger accessories to prevent reload animation clipping
• Fixed PIAT firing animations incorrectly using bolt-action motion
• North Africa rock assets now correctly block unit movement
• Fixed unit stuttering while pivoting during combat.
• Reduced accidental click-drag movement commands issued to vehicles
• Improved network disconnect and lobby error messaging
• Reduced cases where selection rings rendered over prone or suppressed infantry models
• Fixed targeting reticles appearing beneath bridges
• Loiter reticles now correctly display team colors
• Removed the ‘Being Repair’ icon from vehicles being salvaged by infantry
• Recon Plane abilities no longer trigger “Incoming Airstrike” warnings for opponents
• Fixed a rare Italian Campaign soft-lock that could occur during naval movement on the enemy turn
• Fixed a custom match startup issue that could occur when hosting with a saved two-player map and a party larger than two players
• Fixed a Quick Match lobby issue that could leave the Start Match button disabled if a player disconnected before loading began

Known Issues Under Investigation

• Community reported improvements to German, Korean, and Russian translations to improve context of translations
• Certain rate-of-fire bonuses may not behave consistently across all units and abilities
• Panzerjäger Kommand – Tank Buster’s Anti-Tank Grenade Assault sometimes does not activate while under the effect of Concealment, or on vehicles while in cover
• Some magazine-fed weapons may receive unintended reload-speed adjustments rather than fire-rate bonuses
• Special Operations Battlegroup SSF Commandos vehicle prioritization may become disabled after weapon swaps despite remaining enabled in the UI
• Tourelle upgrades may halt if the associated control point is temporarily lost
• Some Visual Effects for flares may end before their reconnaissance vision expires
• Royal Engineer Section – Squad cannot use the Flamethrower Breach even after picking up a Flammenwerfer 35
• Ground Attack may deal less damage than intended against certain emplacements
• Units may occasionally remain active despite displaying zero health, the UI is rounding incorrectly – the unit still has health
• Team weapons will explode if crew gets reduced to 1 the same time it is towed
• HMG teams may fail to complete retreat actions after leaving garrisoned structures
• Wehrmacht A.I. does not currently deploy or utilize the Nebelwerfer team weapon
• A.I. units may pursue hidden enemies and fail to adjust their behavior appropriately when targets remain undiscovered
• A.I. behavior involving certain support and non-combat vehicles may be suboptimal
• Wehrmacht A.I. does not use Critical Location Siege Breaker Battlegroup ability
• British Forces A.I. does not use No Man Left Behind Polish Calvary Battlegroup ability
• Deutsches Afrikakorps Expert A.I. may gain access to rifle grenades before meeting unlock requirements
• Enemy A.I. may repeatedly issue retreat commands when players enter HQ territory
• A.I.-controlled British Forces do not currently field Churchill Crocodile tanks
• A.I. forces do not collect munitions crates created by Supply Drop
• Investigating a rare case where progression may be blocked when Partisan hubs fail to unlock
• Air Support trait sometimes does not work when unlocked through “specialization” upgrade on US Armored units
• Player’s base buildings may have incorrect ownership if you start the Capture Anzio mission with a US Special Forces/Devil’s Brigade company
• Flanking Maneuver perk does not describe that the side armor bonus is only half the rear armor bonus
• Critical Location can’t be cast on an emplacement or outpost more than once, and does not activate on concrete bunkers.
• If a player closes out of the game at the end of the match hastily, the perks and match rewards may not track correctly.
• Allied forces crewed MG42 has VO lines changed to Wehrmacht after using White Phosphorus rounds
• Completing upgrades on fighting positions or bunkers says “research complete” instead of “upgrade complete”
• Some unit animations may appear incorrect
• ELO adjustments may be displayed incorrectly after matches
• Discord stream shows black screen or “Stream is paused” when streaming Company of Heroes 3. We have an open ticket with Discord about this issue
• UI_AddChild(…) causes a severe FPS drop/memory leak; mod creators may encounter performance degradation and increased memory usage when using this function
• Matchmaking cancel button continues to show for a few seconds after a match is found but is no longer functional
• Unable to move camera with middle mouse button while holding Shift key
• Random Faction selection does not save and reverts back to previous selections after Quick Match

Update 2.5.0 is a major balance pass for Company of Heroes 3, and its infantry, cover, and faction changes will be worth watching once players get time with the new patch. Share your thoughts in the comments.

Company of Heroes 3

Developed by Relic Entertainment

The legendary strategy franchise is back! Company of Heroes 3 is the ultimate package of action, tactics and strategy. Take charge in the heat of real-time battle, then command as a General guiding the overall campaign where every decision matters. ​

Overwhelm your opponents with new and familiar factions, units, and international Battlegroups. Command ground, air and naval forces and build supply lines to crush enemy advances on the new Dynamic Campaign Map - no two playthroughs are ever alike! Play at your own pace across campaign and skirmish modes before diving into blistering multiplayer action. Discover the untold stories of a stunning Mediterranean theatre, featuring next generation destructible environments, all powered by Relic's proprietary Essence Engine.

• Genre: Real Time Strategy (RTS), Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Tactical
• Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5
• Perspective: Bird view / Isometric
• Modes: Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative
• Release: 2023-02-23
• Publisher: Sega
• Age Rating:
• IGDB Rating: 60.2/100

PlayStation Store Xbox Store Steam Official Site