Company of Heroes has been officially announced after first word on the upcoming World War II strategy game from Relic Entertainment trickled out last week (story). Here's word on the project:

CALABASAS HILLS, Calif., April 25, 2005: THQ Inc. (Nasdaq: THQI) and critically acclaimed development studio Relic Entertainment today announced Company of HeroesTM, the next revolution in action-strategy gaming on Windows PC. A real-time strategy (RTS) game set in World War II, Company of Heroes brings to life, in full cinematic detail, the greatest war mankind has ever known. Scheduled to release worldwide in 2006, the game will make its public debut at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in May.

"Company of Heroes will again demonstrate Relic Entertainment's reputation for excellence and innovation in the RTS genre," said Jack Sorensen, executive vice president of worldwide studios, THQ. "Relic's unparalleled story-telling and action-oriented approach to the genre have never been more pervasive than across the battlefields of World War II Europe."

Company of Heroes is built on Relic's next-generation Essence Engine and also utilizes the Havok Physics engine, delivering cinematic visual detail in a world completely driven by realistic physics. Gamers will experience the journey of the brave men of Able Company in a deep single-player campaign that begins with the invasion of Normandy through their fight across Europe, all set against the most dynamic battlefield ever seen in a game. Company of Heroes' completely destructable environment means no two battles ever play out in the same way. Advanced squad AI delivers startling new realism and responsiveness, bringing soldiers to life as they interact with the environment and execute advanced squad tactics to eliminate the opposition forces.

Early press on Company of Heroes:

    • "...delivers a visceral punch made possible by a giant leap forward in ground-level RTS graphics technology." - PC Gamer (June 2005)

For more information on Company of Heroes, please visit the official website at www.companyofheroesgame.com