If you do already own the main CoH2 game, it’s pretty much the same deal. Buying some form of Western Front Armies gives you access to all the usual CoH2 multiplayer modes (excluding Theatre of War stuff) and AI skirmish bot matches with your owned faction(s). The base Company of Heroes 2 game isn’t required.

Here’s how it works: Western Front Armies is available as a stand-alone purchase of either one ($13.00) or both ($20.00) of the US and Oberkommando West forces. Beyond the most avid Company of Heroes 2 players, I get the sense people are still a little in the dark about this release.

SEGA has had a oddly draconian NDA in place during alpha testing and, for reasons best known to the publisher, has opted not to do an open beta test at all. What I can do though is explain how this slightly unusual stand-alone release works, note some of the major additions and give my thoughts of the two new army factions it introduces to the game.

Volksgrenadiers exchange bullets with some US Riflemen.

Company of heroes 2 new commanders