Overview
A quick guide about the different Versions, DLCs and mods of Company of Heroes on Steam plus what to do to make it all work.
Quick info graphic
What is the difference between “Company of Heroes” and “Company of Heroes – Legacy Edition”?
“Company of Heroes” (formerly known as “New Steam version”) is the version that gets supported by Steam. It has working multiplayer, Steam-workshop integration and needs to be installed in order for mods to work. INSTALL ONLY THIS VERSION, NOTHING ELSE!
“Company of Heroes – Legacy Edition” is the “old” version from before Steam took care of the game. It isn’t supported, doesn’t receive updates and doesn’t have a working multiplayer.
Which version should I install?
“Company of Heroes”, always, nothing else. There have been reports in the past that installing anything beside it will cause problems with the game and most “Campaign/faction XY is locked” issues can be solved by uninstalling everything but the base game.
I don’t want the Legacy Edition, can I buy only “Company of Heroes”?
No, Steam only sells them together.
Wait, so I have to pay for a game that doesn’t even work?!
No, you pay for “Company of Heroes” and get the Legacy Edition for free. But I guess you can use it to run old mods that didn’t get updated to the “New Steam Version”, so it might not be entirely useless?
What DLCs exist and what do they offer?
Two DLCs, „Opposing Fronts“ and „Tales of Valor“.
OF: Two new factions (Brits and Panzerelite), two new campaigns (one British, one German)
ToV: Three mini campaigns with three missions each and those missions and take place on one map per campaign. Tiger Ace and Causeway are may more arcadey then the rest of the game (you play super strong units and have a new feature called “Direct Fire”), while Falaise Pocket feels more like the missions you already know.
For Multiplayer: Panzerkrieg is PvP, Assault is PvP with AI support, Stonewall is PvE.Once again, Panzerkrieg and Assault are arcadey, Stonewall is closer to the original gameplay.
You also get two new vehicles per faction to optionally replace other vehicles.
I can‘t find the DLCs on the store page, where are they?
What does „Standalone DLC“ mean for Opposing Fronts?
You don‘t need the base game to play Opposing Fronts. You can still play with and against players who own it, but you don‘t have access to the base games campaign and factions.
It looks like Tales of Valor doesn’t need the base game to run anymore. According to someone at the forum, it is possible to play with all factions in multiplayer just by owning Tales of Valor.
Are the DLCs worth it?
Depends on your personal preferences. Wait for a sale and get them there if you are unsure.
In my personal opinion? Yes.
Do I need to download „Company of Heroes: Oppsing Fronts“ and „Comapny of Heroes: Tales of Valor“ to play them?
No, only install “Company of Heroes”. The content should be unlocked there.
I heart about mods, where can I find them?
Mods for Company of Heroes aren’t listed in the workshop. Search for „Company of Heroes“ in the shop or use this comprehensive list.
How do I run mods?
Download and install them, start the mod you want to play from your Steam library
I run into trouble with a mod where can I find help?
The according community hubs. Just like Company of Heroes, every mod has its own forum on Steam. If you have problems, you should ask there.
I can’t find mod XY, will it be added to Steam?
Unlikely. I heart something about Steam not adding new mods, but I don’t remember where. They added the Back to Basics mod in July 2021, so… maybe?
How can I run mods that aren’t on Steam?
Depends on the mod. The team has to update it so that it works with the current Steam version. Some mods come with an installer-exe, some need you to change the launch options of the game. Make sure to check the ReadMe-files of the mod you want to play.
Notes
This guide is based on a thread I made a while ago because many people asked the questions mentioned above. I decided to turn it into a guide because
a) I don’t have to bump a guide
b) Guides have better formating options and are easier to update
c) I believe it’s easier to find this way
If you still have questiuons or feedback, I recommend asking directly in the thread. Not only will it bump the thread, but other helpful people will see your questions and might be able to answer it. Of course, you can always ask directly below.
Thank you.