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Overview
The Orchid Spider update for Company of Heroes 3 will be available to download on Tuesday, November 26th, 2024. The 1.9.0 update includes hotly anticipated features such as Live Observer mode, two exciting new maps, a tooltip overhaul, and a ton of multiplayer balance changes, including all-new Veterancy, and the next step in our Unit Distinction work.
Maps
Rapido River Crossing (4 vs 4)
Rapido River Crossing is the latest 4-vs-4 installment, available in all game modes. This autumnal valley disguises a brutal battlefield bisected by a fast, muddy river. Creating a foothold on the enemy side of the river is key to victory but will prove challenging for even the most experienced commander.
Santuario (2 vs 2)
Santuario is our latest Official Community Map, created by Mythe. This 2-vs-2 map features a once idyllic seaside village, now fortified in preparation for battle. Players will be tasked with taking and holding a variety of environs, from the beaches to the South, to the central village, to the Northern forests.
Map Improvements
Additionally, we continue to improve all our existing multiplayer maps through bug fixes and balance adjustments based on your feedback. You can find the details in tomorrow’s patch notes and further feedback on all of our maps is still welcome!
New Features
Live Observer Mode
Live Observer Mode makes its debut in Company of Heroes 3, providing players and content creators with a tool to watch and commentate on matches live as they happen. This mode also lets you spectate your favorite players and friends.
From the Multiplayer menu, you can now navigate to Observer Mode. From here, you will see a Game List that will contain all the games currently being played, along with additional filters and sorting options to help you find what you’re looking for.
Custom Games will allow the lobby host to manually set whether observers are allowed, whether there is an observation delay and how long that should be (zero delay to 30 minutes), and whether you want a password to limit who can view the match. Once in a match, you’ll be presented with a UI similar to the existing Replay mode with an added ‘Jump To Live’ button. However, Observer Mode now includes an all-new Tournament mode layout.
Get a closer look at our new maps and Observer Mode in our latest Developer Deep Dive!
Ranked Play
We wanted to spice up the experience of ranked play with some new functionality and eye candy. We've added a fancy new animation when achieving a new rank. Additionally, you can now view the ranked leaderboards directly in the game to see where you're at and to plan future conquests. You can find the button to access the Leaderboards right at the top of the main menu. You can now also launch the Observer Mode directly from the in-game Leaderboards if your favorite player is currently in a match.
Multiplayer Balance Changes
Several aspects of multiplayer will be getting some love in Orchid Spider. First, we will be addressing any lingering issues from update 1.8.0, with notable changes to the economy including reinforcement costs and de-capture times.
This update also includes the first part of our major overhaul to unit Veterancy. All factions have had each Veterancy level reviewed, improved or completely changed.
The Veterancy changes go together with the remainder of our Unit Distinction work that we began in the Onyx Shark update (1.7.0). Several units have had their abilities super-charged to make their roles more unique and to have them shine on the battlefield.
You can get an early look at these multiplayer changes and more in our Orchid Spider Balance Discussion debuting on Twitch at 9am PDT on November 26th or review all the changes in the patch notes which will go up tomorrow.
The Orchid Spider update is out for PC on Steam on Tuesday, November 26th at 10am PDT! Jump into our official Discord to discuss the update and find others to play with. Happy Observing!
