Company of Heroes 3’s Scarlet Bison update actually fixes what mattered

Why you should care: this update changes how Company of Heroes 3 plays

Company of Heroes 3’s new Scarlet Bison patch (2.2) and the Endure and Defy battlegroup DLC arrive together, but the free update is the real headline: it reworks core systems, enemy AI, pathing and balance in ways that actually change match outcomes. If CoH 3 felt rough or unfinished before, this is the closest thing Relic has delivered to a course correction – not just another balance pass, but a broad retooling that could finally make the game feel like a CoH title worth returning to.

• Major AI and core-system changes – better positioning, flanking, indirect fire use
• Four new battlegroups in Endure and Defy add niche, tactical playstyles (partisans, Polish cavalry, defensive Wehrmacht, and Afrika Korps)
• Four new maps plus rework of oversized maps and hundreds of multiplayer balance tweaks
• Both DLC and base game are on deep Steam discounts – good time to try it, but buy the base game first

Breaking down Scarlet Bison and Endure and Defy

Relic bundled the Endure and Defy battlegroup pack with the Scarlet Bison patch. The DLC itself is small but flavorful: four battlegroups aimed at shaking up how the three big factions approach engagements. The US gets an oddball Italian Partisans battlegroup — essentially resistance fighters and saboteurs that use tunnels, resource siphoning and underground detonations to harass and deny the enemy. Britain gains a Polish Cavalry themed battlegroup packing elite Lancer infantry, Sherman Fireflies, and support tools like Land Mattress artillery and decapitation strikes. Germany gets two: a Last Stand Wehrmacht focused on brutal fortification and anti-tank kits (think Pantherturm turrets and Borgward Wanze demolition tricks), and a Kriegsmarine/Afrika Korps mix that blends engineering, naval/sortie support, and air/sea call-ins (Stukas, glide bombs and naval salvos).

This caught my attention because battlegroups are where CoH has historically found its identity. Small changes to what units a battlegroup emphasizes can flip the meta. Partisans that tunnel? That’s not just flavor — it’s a whole new tempo for harassment play. Same for a defensive Wehrmacht that forces combined arms to adapt or die trying.

Why now: the slow comeback of CoH 3

Company of Heroes 3 launched into a mixed reception and, frankly, came up short for fans who still hold CoH1 and CoH2 in high regard. Relic’s been on an incremental redemption tour through 2025, and Scarlet Bison is the most ambitious step yet: not just patches but system-level fixes to infantry loading, tank riding, vehicle pathfinding, collisions, reinforcements and garrisons. Those mechanical fixes are the kind of plumbing work most publishers skip, but they’re the stuff that actually makes multiplayer feel fair.

Relic explicitly targeted “a number of critical issues” with the AI that were “making it less satisfying to play with and against,” and based on Relic’s notes the AI now does smarter positioning, flanking, indirect fire use and keeps battlegroup bonuses in mind. Those improvements are welcome — if the AI actually behaves more predictably in the heat of a match, that’s a qualitative change for both solo skirmish players and those who use AI allies in team games.

What players will notice (and what still needs watching)

Players will spot the obvious stuff first: four new maps (Bologna, Wadi Darnah, Oliveto Citra and Powderkeg), hundreds of balance tweaks, and over 2,000 new voice lines. Under the hood, though, the vehicle pathing and collision fixes should reduce the frustrating “traffic jam” moments where tanks and transports get stuck or behave unpredictably. AI changes should make solo matches feel more tactical instead of random.

But be skeptical: the update calls out specific problem areas — battlegroups with cost-free call-in infantry and heavy tanks being either overbearing or irrelevant depending on mode — and Relic’s answer is a long list of nerfs/buffs. That kind of heavy-handed rebalancing can stabilize a meta or create new oddities. The community should test small-game modes and large 4v4s: units that felt OP in 1v1s sometimes vanish in team matches, and vice versa.

Commercially, the timing is sensible. Both the base game (60% off) and the new DLC (10% launch discount, $22.49/£17.54 until Dec 11) are on sale, which lowers the barrier for anyone curious whether CoH3 is finally worth their time. My recommendation: buy the base game on sale to see if the core gameplay clicks for you before snapping up battlegroups.

TL;DR — Is this a comeback?

Scarlet Bison is the most meaningful CoH 3 update yet: real fixes to AI and systems, new maps, and a battlegroup pack that introduces interesting tactical options. It’s not a miracle cure — expect more iterations — but if Relic keeps shipping changes like this, CoH 3 can close the gap to its celebrated predecessors. Try the base game on sale first; if you like the new feel, Endure and Defy gives you some spicy new tools to experiment with.