PC players have a chance to experience Relic Entertainment’s renewed vision of World War II strategy without spending a cent. The Company of Heroes 3 free weekend arrives shortly after the game’s biggest update since launch and just days before its first campaign expansion. For anyone who has been waiting for the right moment to enter the battlefield, November offers a particularly attractive opportunity.
Originally released on February 23, 2023, Company of Heroes 3 takes real-time strategy fans to the Mediterranean fronts of World War II, with military operations across Italy and North Africa. Now, Relic Entertainment is celebrating the franchise’s 20th anniversary with several reasons to revisit its latest mainline installment.
Company of Heroes 3 free weekend: dates and Steam discounts
Since November 12, PC players have been able to download and enjoy the strategy game at no cost. However, the promotion will end on Monday, November 16, 2026, at 18:00 UTC.
As with other temporary promotions, such as the recent Anno 117 free trial, this opportunity does not grant permanent ownership. Players who wish to continue after the deadline will need to purchase the game.
Fortunately, Relic has launched a franchise-wide Steam sale that will remain active until November 19. The current offers include:
- Company of Heroes 3: 67% off, its biggest discount to date, reducing its US price from $59.99 to $19.79.
- Company of Heroes 3: Final Stand: 20% off the standalone wave-defense experience released on July 29, 2026.
- Additional discounts on other installments in the Company of Heroes franchise.
Interested players can access the promotion through the official Company of Heroes 3 Steam page.
Company of Heroes 3 free access showcases a renewed battlefield
Perhaps the most compelling reason to download the game right now is not its price. On November 5, Relic released Update 3.0, also known as the 20th Anniversary Update. It represents the most ambitious revision of the RTS since its original release.
Rather than concentrating on a single aspect of combat, the developers have introduced improvements across several areas:
- Enhanced graphics, environments and weather effects.
- Audio improvements and smarter artificial intelligence.
- Gameplay adjustments and revised unit balancing.
- New battlefields and revamped existing maps.
- Campaign improvements and additional cosmetic items.
- New content for Final Stand.
Furthermore, Hotfix 3.0.1 arrived on November 10, delivering additional fixes and adjustments to ELO-based matchmaking.
These improvements make the trial particularly valuable for returning players. After all, revisiting a strategy game following substantial changes to artificial intelligence and combat balancing can offer a different experience from the one remembered at launch.
Operation Torch finally expands the single-player campaign
While recent improvements cover multiple aspects of the game, those who prefer historical campaigns have another important date to remember. On November 25, Relic will release Operation Torch on PC.
This expansion represents the first campaign DLC for Company of Heroes 3. More importantly, it introduces the first new single-player missions since the game’s debut in 2023.
Its 15 missions follow Allied military operations across Axis-occupied North Africa. Players will experience events ranging from the initial landings and the defeat at Kasserine to the final offensive at Hill 609.
Instead of presenting these battles solely through a broad military perspective, Operation Torch follows the experiences of three American soldiers. Additionally, its progression system incorporates upgrades and optional objectives.
For fans of historical RTS campaigns, a genre also explored by titles such as The Fertile Crescent 2, this expansion provides another reason to keep an eye on November’s releases.
Relic is already preparing the next chapter for 2027
Two decades after the original Company of Heroes arrived in 2006, the franchise is preparing to reach additional players while continuing to develop its existing games.
On November 10, Feral Interactive confirmed that Company of Heroes 3 will arrive on macOS in December 2026. Final Stand will also become available to Mac users.
Meanwhile, Relic has teased several developments for 2027, including:
- Further content updates for Final Stand.
- New Battlegroups for Company of Heroes 3.
- The release of Company of Heroes – Definitive Edition, a modernized version of the original 2006 strategy game.
Ultimately, the Company of Heroes 3 free weekend offers something more useful than a temporary saving. It allows strategy enthusiasts to assess how far the game has evolved before deciding whether its upcoming content deserves a place in their Steam library.
Creator of the website, Pokemon trainer by nature. Trying to report on everything related to the world of video games, series and movies. Yu-Gi-Oh is my weakness, collecting cards since the dawn of time.
