From Feral Interactive:
Feral Interactive announced today that The Western Front Armies, the first major expansion pack for the World War II real-time strategy game Company of Heroes 2, will be released for Mac and Linux via Steam on January 21st, with the Mac App Store version to follow shortly afterwards. Developed by Relic Entertainment and published by SEGA for Windows PC, The Western Front Armies adds incredible scope and depth to Company of Heroes 2’s critically-praised multiplayer experience.
This release also introduces Mac-Linux cross-platform multiplayer, enabling Mac and Linux gamers on Steam to go head-to-head on any of the 23 existing Company of Heroes 2 and the eight The Western Front Armies multiplayer maps. The new Mac-Linux cross-platform multiplayer feature does not require players to buy The Western Front Armies expansion, and will come via a free patch update.
The Western Front Armies expansion pack contains two additional armies, the versatile US Forces and the technologically-advanced Oberkommando West, each with unique units and abilities, as well as eight new maps set in the French and Belgian countryside. These armies are deployed in Skirmish mode, which can be played either online or offline.
Company of Heroes 2’s online Skirmish mode invites up to eight players to maneuver soldiers, guns, and tanks across feature-rich environments as they scope out the battlefield, secure targets and destroy their enemies. The Western Front Armies allows newcomers to enter the fray as either the US Forces or the Oberkommando West, while offering experienced players brand new tech-trees and strategies for each army.
On Steam, The Western Front Armies is available as a stand-alone game that offers a great entry point to Company of Heroes 2’s multiplayer. On the Mac App Store, The Western Front Armies is available as an in-app purchase, requiring the base game Company of Heroes 2 in order to play. Multiplayer for the Mac App Store version of the game is Mac-Mac only and supported by Feral’s own matching service.
New Commanders for each army will be released alongside The Western Front Armies, each offering a new style of play with a unique combination of five combat abilities. The Commanders are included with The Western Front Armies on the Mac App Store, and available for purchase separately via Steam.
“Company of Heroes 2 offers one of the most exhilarating multiplayer strategy experiences on Mac and Linux, and The Western Front Armies builds on it,” said David Stephen, Managing Director of Feral Interactive. “We’re especially excited to offer Steam Mac and Linux players the chance to play with or against each other for the first time with the release of The Western Front Armies.”
The Western Front Armies will retail on Steam for US $19.99, £14.99 (inc. VAT) and €19,99 (inc. VAT). If purchased separately, the US Forces and Oberkommando West armies will be priced at $12.99, £9.99 (inc. VAT) and €12,99 (inc. VAT) each. The Western Front Armies will retail on the Mac App Store for US $29.99, £22.99 (inc. VAT) and €29,99 (inc.VAT).
A minisite dedicated to Company of Heroes 2 is available now here and a trailer is available below.
Minimum system requirements for Mac call for a 1.8Ghz CPU with at least 4.0GB RAM, 512MB or better graphics card, and Mac OS 10.10.3 or later. The game requires an AMD R9 series graphics card, an Intel Iris Pro graphics card, or an NVIDIA 600 series graphics card or better.
Minimum system requirements for Linux call for a 2.6Ghz Dual-Core CPU with at least 4.0GB RAM, 1GB or better graphics card, and Ubuntu 14.04 (64bit) or SteamOS. The game requires an Intel Iris Pro graphics card or an NVIDIA 600 series graphics card or better. A Steam account is required.
