Company of Heroes 3 doubles down on the game's established tactical RTS formula by adding even more advanced features
Company of Heroes 3 doubles down on the game's established tactical RTS formula by adding even more advanced features Relic

KEY POINTS

  • "Company of Heroes 3's" console version is designed with controllers in mind
  • The game's tactical pause feature also translates well into how the new input method plays
  • "Company of Heroes 3" for consoles has no specific release date as of yet

Gamers are set to get a new RTS title for the current line of Xbox Series X and S consoles in the form of "Company of Heroes 3," the third game in Relic's acclaimed series of World War II strategy games.

The announcement for "Company of Heroes 3" for consoles was made earlier this month, but publisher Sega only recently revealed some of the new and important additions and changes that are coming to the game. In its post on Xbox Wire, it detailed these key features that should make playing on a controller less stressful.

Console-Friendly UI and Controls

Implementing a control scheme that feels natural in a console RTS is more difficult than it seems considering the mechanical complexity of these types of games, but Relic had managed to develop one that should result in a more streamlined experience.

Getting the controls in "Company of Heroes 3's" console version right involved plenty of prediction and playtesting, game designer Andy Fedorchuk said in the blog. The game was reportedly built from the ground up with controller support in mind, so console users can expect a high degree of refinement in the UI/UX department.

Company of Heroes 3 features the same brutal combat found in the previous games but with a much larger sense of scale
Company of Heroes 3 features the same brutal combat found in the previous games but with a much larger sense of scale Relic
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One of the key features regarding the control scheme is the inclusion of a radial command wheel that's bound to the left trigger. From here, players can order their units to use abilities and equipment like satchel charges and grenades.

Fedorchuk said that controls are mapped to make commonly-used actions readily available. However, the game will also come with mouse and keyboard support for Xbox consoles should players choose to do so.

Full-Time Tactical Pause

One of the biggest additions to "Company of Heroes 3" is the tactical pause system, which allows players to make decisions without the mounting pressure of catastrophic defeat. This feature is present in both PC and console versions of the game, though it will be much more useful for the latter.

Tactical pause opens up a new layer of strategy that enables lethal precision when executing coordinated attacks. However, this will only be usable in single-player modes.

"Company of Heroes 3" launches on PC in February. Meanwhile, the console edition will be released later in the year.

Company of Heroes 3 Italy
Company of Heroes 3 will feature some of the bloodiest battles in Italy during World War II Relic Entertainment