The new Company of Heroes is a wave-based defense game that throws prospective generals straight into the action

Back in June at the PC Gamer Show, Relic Entertainment announced Company of Heroes: Definitive Edition, a remake to celebrate the 20^th anniversary of its WW2 RTS that got our Jake Tucker very excited. But that’s not the only CoH game that Relic has cooking. Today the studio announced Company of Heroes 3: Final Stand, not an RTS but a “wave defense” game that pits players against escalating rounds of enemy attacks, with powerful bosses and “dynamic battlefield events.”

Company of Heroes 3: Final Stand is “built on the beloved tactical foundation” of the RTS games, but expands upon it with a roguelite progression system “that encourages experimentation, adaptation, and replayability.”

Four factions, each with unique strategies, abilities, and progression paths, are playable across five battlefields “designed for wave defense gameplay.” Eight difficulty levels will provide a wide range of challenges, and it will support both singleplayer and two-player co-op action.

While Final Stand is obviously based on Company of Heroes 3—it’s right there in the title—it’s clearly intended to deliver a punchier, more immediate experience that throws players straight into the action. “Players can jump right in and experience the thrill of holding the line against overwhelming odds, whether they’re longtime fans or new to the franchise,” Relic said, adding that the game “captures the classic Company of Heroes feeling of those pivotal moments where when faced with overwhelming odds, preparation, adaptability, and decisive command determine survival.”

Final Stand sounds to me more like a mode in a fully-fledged Company of Heroes game, but it’s a standalone release and doesn’t require any knowledge of, or experience with, previous releases in the series. However, if you own Company of Heroes 3, you’ll get a 20% discount on the $30 purchase price of Final Stand. It’s set to launch on July 29 and is up for wishlisting now on Steam.