Company of Heroes is a WWII Real Time Strategy game that brings to life the journey of the brave men of Able Company as they fight across Europe in the greatest war mankind has ever known.

From the studio that brought you the blockbuster games of the year Homeworld, Impossible Creatures and Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War comes the next revolution in action strategy. Company of Heroes is a WWII Real Time Strategy game that brings to life the journey of the brave men of Able Company as they fight across Europe in the greatest war mankind has ever known.

From the opening shots of the D-Day invasion of Normandy players will find themselves immersed in a rich single player campaign. Experience the cinematic intensity, courage, and bravery of the heroes that defined a generation, set against the backdrop of the most dynamic battlefield ever seen in a game. It is simply without equal!

Here are some key features of "Company of Heroes":

� Essence Engine - Relic's next generation cutting-edge engine provides graphics quality and a physics driven world that is unprecedented in an RTS.
� Environmental Strategy - Real-time physics and a completely destructible environment guarantee no two battles ever play out in the same way. Destroy anything and re-shape the battlefield in your image! Use buildings and terrain to your advantage, or deny them to the enemy.
� Living Soldiers - Advanced squad AI brings your soldiers to life as they interact with their changing environment, take cover, and execute advanced squad tactics to eliminate all enemy opposition.
� 2-8 players MP competition via Lan or Internet - Go online with friends and join in the ultimate battle of Axis versus Allies.


What's New in This Release:

General Fixes & Features
� Fixed AI bug that caused retreated units to gather closely around the HQ.
� Worldbuilder now shows territory properly.
� Fixed a crash that occurred while loading old files.
� Fixed a bug in crew switching during AT gun movement.
� Fixed a graphical bug in the replay menu.
� Fixed a bug with unit weapon slots after dropping two weapons.
� Fixed a crash bug when launching saved games from Windows Explorer in Vista.
� Fixed multiplayer maps not drawing boundary lines after a performance test.
� Anti-hacking systems have been integrated.
� Tiger Ace with wreck mesh has been fixed.
� Fog of War can be toggled on and off during Replays in the Replay Menu.
� Scenario packs will show UI images and loading screen.
� Recorded game files no longer saved to disk until after the game.
� Fixed timed ability not triggering on all selected squads.
� Fixed a bug that caused the Panzerschreck to misfire.
� Hyperlinking support added to news items.
� Addfriend and Removefriend commands are now disallowed in game.
� Online Fixes & Features
� Players can now see the number of “dropped” games in the player profile screen. (See note below)
� Performance improvements for lobby game pings.
� Performance bar improvements.
� Fixed a rare crash occurrence in the lobby.
� "Play Now" button is disabled if in dev mode or any mods are active.
� Implemented dropping fixes.
� Player ability levels are matched more evenly during automatch.
� "Drops" is actually the count of the games you have been in that the server had to arbitrate the results for. The following things cause arbitration; kicking somebody for lag, having a sync error, "drop-hacking", and certain kinds of internet connection problems. Players should be aware that all of these things will affect the players trust score.
Global
� Units using Barbed Wire Cutters are now significantly more susceptible to damage while cutting barbed wire.
� Squads building barbed wire are now capped at two builders per squad.
� Wire cutters are now provided to all players at the start of the game.
� All Anti-Tank Guns have a reduced chance to hit moving infantry targets.
Gameplay Bug Fixes
� Route N13 ambient building repositioned so troops no longer become stuck when exiting.
� Axis Inspired Assault UI indicator will now last as long as the ability is still active.
� Axis Sniper now obtains suppression resistance and a health bonus at second level veterancy.
� Axis Stormtroopers will now come out of camouflage while retreating.
� Removed manpower upkeep cost from mines.
� Axis Advanced Warning Commander Tree Ability no longer applies sight bonuses to Axis Vehicles.
� Axis Grenadier and Stormtrooper squads can continue purchasing weapons packages regardless of the number of times they’ve dropped them.
� All small ambient buildings will now display on the minimap while garrisoned or controlled.
� Allied M3 Halftrack and Jeep armor is no longer highly resistant to projectile ammunition.
� Changed the requirements to use Offmap Reinforcements and paradropped engineers when HQ is destroyed; Mortars, AT Guns and other non-builder units will not prohibit this action from taking place.
� Removed flamethrower death critical on ballistic weapons.
� M8 Greyhound no longer does incremental engine damage to vehicles.
� Allied M10 Tank Destroyer no longer has an unintended accuracy penalty against moving Axis Sdkfz Armoured Cars.
� Axis Volksgrenadier and Axis Knights Cross Holder squads now receive bonuses at their second levels of veterancy.
� Axis Panzerfaust ability no longer has a 50% chance to miss moving heavy vehicles.
� Axis 88mm Flak 36 now receives intended bonuses from support weapon veterancy.
� Tank wrecks found on maps are no longer salvageable.
� Allied Demolitions upgrade moved one slot to the left on the Allied HQ UI.
Commander Trees
� Allied Paradrop AT-Gun cost increased to 350 manpower from 320.
� Allied Pershing now requires more experience to obtain veterancy levels.
� Allied Supply Drop will now cost 200 Manpower.
� Axis Infantry Assault Team cost decreased to 350 manpower from 400.
� Axis Stormtrooper squad removed from the Urban Assault Team and the Armored Assault Force Commander Tree Abilities.
� Axis "Urban Assault Team" has been renamed to "Urban Assault Support".
� Axis Urban Assault Support cost decreased to 600 manpower from 700.
� Axis Armored Assault Force cost decreased to 900 manpower from 1000.
Gameplay Changes
� Allied M4 Crocodile Sherman range and damage decreased.
� Allied M1 57mm Anti-Tank Gun and Allied Paradrop Anti-Tank Gun accuracy bonus at first level of veterancy decreased.
� Allied M10 Tank Destroyer acceleration speed slightly decreased.
� Allied M10 Tank Destroyer damage reduced versus Axis Light Vehicles.
� Allied M10 Tank Destroyer damage reduced against buildings.
� Allied M10 Tank Destroyer turn radius increased.
� Allied M3 Halftrack cost increased to 25 fuel from 20.
� Allied M3 Halftrack Quad .50 cal upgrade cost increased to 125 munitions from 100.
� Axis Ostwind Flakpanzer area of effect radius increased.
� Axis Sdkfz Armored Car 50mm Puma Gun upgrade no longer requires Escalate to Battle Phase.
� Axis Motorcycle more resilient to small arms fire.
� Axis Panzerfaust ability damage increased versus Allied Jeep.
� Axis Grenade ability range increased significantly.
� Axis Grenade area of effect increased.
Maps
� St. Mere Dumont, Langres, and Wrecked Train Community Maps added to the Custom Games map selection.
� Hill 331 resources rebalanced.
� Point du Hoc resources rebalanced.
� Sturzdorf resources rebalanced.
� Angoville Farms base defenses updated.
� Angoville Farms ambient building positions rebalanced.
� Beaux Lowlands base defenses updated.
� Beaux Lowlands resource positions rebalanced.