The year is 2026, and the battlefields of Company of Heroes 3 continue to rage. Relic Entertainment and SEGA have consistently supported their ambitious real-time strategy title since its 2023 launch, with Season 3 representing a significant milestone in its post-release journey. This battle pass, released in late 2025, aimed to reinvigorate the player base and offer compelling new reasons to deploy. But with so many games vying for our attention, is Season 3 still worth your hard-earned war chest today?
We've spent countless hours sifting through its tiers, evaluating its offerings, and assessing its impact on the game's long-term health. Our verdict is in, and it's a mixed bag, albeit one with some shining moments for dedicated commanders.
The Evolution of Company of Heroes 3's Post-Launch Content
Company of Heroes 3 launched with a solid foundation but faced initial criticism regarding its technical polish and content depth. Relic quickly responded, rolling out numerous patches, balance updates, and quality-of-life improvements. The introduction of seasonal battle passes, starting in mid-2024, marked a new chapter.
Each season brought a mix of cosmetic rewards, in-game currency, and sometimes even new unit skins or commander profiles. Season 3, however, was touted as the most ambitious yet, promising a deeper integration with the game's competitive and casual modes.
"Season 3 was designed to reward consistent engagement, not just quick bursts of play. It’s a testament to our commitment to the CoH3 community," stated a Relic Entertainment spokesperson in a 2025 press release.
This philosophy is evident in the structure and progression of the battle pass, which we'll delve into next.
What's Inside the Season 3 Battle Pass?
Season 3 offered a total of 60 tiers of rewards, split between a free track and a premium track. The premium track cost 1,000 CoH Coins (approximately $9.99 USD at the time of release), a standard price point for battle passes in the RTS genre.
Here's a breakdown of the key reward categories:
- New Unit Skins: A total of 8 unique unit skins were available, with 3 on the free track and 5 on the premium. These included a striking "Desert Fox" skin for the Wehrmacht's Panzer IV and a "Mediterranean Camo" for the US Forces' Sherman tank.
- Commander Portraits: 4 new animated portraits were introduced, offering more personalization options for player profiles. These were exclusively on the premium track.
- Emblems & Decals: Over 20 new emblems and decals allowed players to further customize their in-game banners and unit markings. Many of these had a distinct North African or Italian campaign theme.
- In-Game Currency: The premium track offered a total of 1,200 CoH Coins back, effectively making the next battle pass free for active players. The free track provided 200 CoH Coins.
- Boosters: XP and Supply boosters were scattered throughout both tracks, helping players accelerate their progression and unlock new doctrines faster.
- Victory Point Skins: A highly anticipated addition was the ability to customize the visual appearance of Victory Points on the map. Season 3 introduced 2 new VP skins, one for each faction, available at tier 45 of the premium pass.
Progression and Challenges
Progression through Season 3 was primarily driven by completing daily and weekly challenges, alongside general match participation. Daily challenges typically awarded 100-200 Battle Pass XP, while weekly challenges offered 500-1000 XP.
- Daily Challenges: Focused on common tasks like "Destroy 5 enemy vehicles" or "Capture 10 control points."
- Weekly Challenges: More complex, requiring specific unit usage or win conditions, e.g., "Win 3 matches as US Forces using Airborne Company."
- Seasonal Milestones: A new feature for Season 3, these long-term objectives rewarded significant XP for achieving cumulative goals, such as "Deal 100,000 damage with artillery units over the season."
The total XP required to complete the entire pass was approximately 75,000 XP. Our analysis showed that a player averaging 5-7 matches per week and completing most challenges could comfortably finish the pass within the 10-week season duration.
The Good, The Bad, and The Battlefield
Season 3 brought several welcome improvements and some lingering issues.
The Good:
- Value Proposition: The ability to earn back enough CoH Coins for the next pass is a huge plus, fostering long-term engagement without continuous spending.
- Thematic Cohesion: The rewards felt well-integrated with the game's existing aesthetic, particularly the North African and Italian campaign themes.
- Victory Point Customization: This was a fan-favorite addition, offering a subtle yet impactful way to personalize the battlefield.
- Improved Challenge Design: Seasonal Milestones encouraged diverse gameplay and provided a sense of achievement beyond just daily grind.
The Bad:
- Cosmetic Focus: While the skins are nice, some players still yearned for more substantial content like new commanders or game modes directly tied to the pass.
- Grind Fatigue: Despite improvements, completing all challenges could still feel like a chore for players with limited playtime, especially towards the end of the season.
- Limited Faction Diversity: The premium skins heavily favored Axis and US forces, leaving British and DAK players with fewer exclusive options.
"While the VP skins are cool, I'd trade them all for a new British commander doctrine. That's what truly changes gameplay for me," commented a long-time player on the official forums in late 2025.
Is It Worth It in 2026?
Looking back from 2026, the Company of Heroes 3 Season 3 Battle Pass holds up reasonably well, especially for dedicated players. If you're still actively playing Company of Heroes 3, the premium track offered excellent value due to the CoH Coin cashback. The cosmetic rewards, while not game-changing, added a nice layer of personalization.
For new players or those returning after a long hiatus, the value proposition is slightly diminished. The specific challenges and time-limited nature mean you can no longer complete it. However, many of the cosmetic items eventually found their way into the in-game store for individual purchase, albeit at a higher cumulative cost.
- For active players (at the time of release): Highly Recommended. The cashback alone made it a no-brainer.
- For casual players (at the time of release): Recommended with caveats. Only if you could commit to weekly challenges.
- For players in 2026 (who missed it): Not applicable for completion. Focus on currently active battle passes or direct store purchases for desired items.
Final Thoughts
The Company of Heroes 3 Season 3 Battle Pass was a strong entry in the game's live-service model. It demonstrated Relic Entertainment's commitment to player engagement and provided a robust reward structure. While it leaned heavily on cosmetics, the introduction of Victory Point skins and the generous CoH Coin cashback set a positive precedent for future seasons.
As Company of Heroes 3 continues to evolve in 2026, Season 3 stands as a testament to the developers' iterative approach to content. It successfully balanced player retention with meaningful rewards, solidifying its place as a key component of the game's long-term strategy. For those who participated, it was undoubtedly a worthwhile investment in their virtual war efforts.
