Relic Entertainment has unveiled its latest downloadable content (DLC) for Company of Heroes 3, titled Endure and Defy, which has just launched alongside a significant update, version 2.2. This update brings a wealth of gameplay enhancements, including core system tweaks, balance adjustments, and improvements to enemy AI, along with an impressive addition of over 2,000 new voice lines. Players can access this comprehensive overhaul now, with a generous 60% discount available on Steam.
New Battlegroups and Tactical Options
The Endure and Defy DLC introduces four new battlegroups that expand the tactical possibilities for the USA, Britain, and Germany. For the US forces, players can now deploy the Italian Partisans, who utilize resistance fighters and saboteurs, employing strategies like tunnel networks and resource siphoning to keep enemies guessing. Meanwhile, the British forces gain access to the Polish Cavalry, featuring elite Lancer troops and Sherman Firefly tanks, supported by air strikes and artillery that excel against seasoned adversaries.
Germany’s offerings include two new battlegroups. The Wehrmacht’s Last Stand focuses on fortifying defenses and immobilizing enemy vehicles, utilizing assets like the Pantherturm fortified turret and the Borgward Wanze demolition vehicle. In the South, the Dutsches Afrikakorps brings the power of the German Navy to the battlefield with the Kriegsmarine battlegroup, which combines flexible infantry combat with engineering prowess, enabling supply drops and support from air and sea forces.
Company of Heroes 3 DLC Endure and Defy is currently available on Steam, with a 10% launch discount, bringing the price down to .49 / £17.54 until Thursday, December 11. However, this is just the beginning of the new content, as the free Scarlet Bison update introduces even more substantial changes.
Significant Gameplay Enhancements
The patch notes for the Scarlet Bison update are extensive, highlighting major improvements across several core mechanics, including infantry loading, tank riding, vehicle pathfinding, and garrison reinforcements. Relic has also addressed critical issues with enemy AI, enhancing its performance based on focused playtesting. Players will notice that computer-controlled squads are now better at positioning and flanking, utilizing indirect fire and anti-vehicle tools more effectively, and retreating less frequently from engagements.
Additionally, four new maps have been introduced for various modes: Bologna (1v1), Wadi Darnah (2v2), Oliveto Citra (4v4), and Powderkeg (4v4). Relic has also re-evaluated some of its most criticized maps, adjusting three that were deemed too large for their intended player counts.
Multiplayer balance changes are also a focal point of this update, targeting battlegroups with call-in infantry units that do not require command points and addressing the effectiveness of heavy tanks in different game modes. With hundreds of adjustments made, players are encouraged to review the complete patch notes for detailed information.
With the current 60% discount on the base game, now is an opportune moment for both new and returning players to explore Company of Heroes 3. The game is available for .99 / £19.19, down from its regular price of .99 / £47.99, through Friday, December 5. As Relic notes, “We hope Scarlet Bison closes out 2025 with a bang as we gear up for a busy 2026.”
