A Company of Heroes 3 multiplayer test is launching on Tuesday

Players will be able to sample Company of Heroes 3 multiplayer this week via a pre-alpha test launching on Tuesday.

The multiplayer test will let participants play four Italian maps across a variety of game modes, including co-op vs AI opponents, competitive PvP and Skirmish vs AI.

They’ll also be able to try out new features like Full Tactical Pause, which allows Skirmish players to freeze the action and coordinate their next move without the pressure of having to do it in real-time.

Returning factions include the US forces and the Wehrmacht, with more set to be revealed in the run up to the game’s full release in 2022.

The Company of Heroes 3 multiplayer pre-alpha (register here) is now available to pre-load on Steam.

It will be playable for just under a week, beginning on November 30 at 9am PT / 12pm ET / 5pm GMT.

Developer Relic and publisher Sega announced the latest instalment in the long-running RTS series in July.

“Company of Heroes 3 is bringing the series’ intimate boots-on-the-ground storytelling to a brand-new theatre of war, unlocking authentic new tactics, factions, and a wealth of untold stories from World War II,” the game’s synopsis reads.

“The Mediterranean is a place of immense variety, from windswept Italian mountain passes to harsh North African deserts and coastal vistas. On this new frontline, intelligence trumps speed.”

Company of Heroes 3 is powered by the Essence Engine 5, the latest evolution of Relic’s proprietary RTS tech. It features a dynamic campaign map in which players command ground, air and naval forces and build supply lines as they lead the Allies’ campaign to retake mainland Italy.