COH2 Closed Beta starts Apr.2

Early Access Phase for Eligible Pre-order Customers

SAN FRANCISCO & LONDON --(Business Wire)--

SEGA® of America, Inc. and SEGA Europe Ltd. today announced that Company of Heroes 2, the eagerly anticipated strategy game from Relic Entertainment, Inc., will be running an exclusive, early access beta phase which will go live Tuesday 2nd April.

The closed beta playtest features the game`s critically acclaimed competitive multiplayer and skirmish gameplay, giving players access to six maps, 1v1, 2v2, 3v3 and 4v4 competitive gameplay, as well as the ability to play alone or with teammates against the AI. Players also get access to the first 40 levels of progression, and the ability to customize their loadouts to suit their play style using the all new Army Customizer.

This first phase of the closed beta will be open to eligible pre-order customers only. There will be a second phase in the coming weeks where a wider audience will get a chance to take part. For more information keep watching www.companyofheroes.com.

The Company of Heroes 2 closed beta will be hosted on Steam and utilizes Steamworks match-making and friend lists. Players need the free Steam client to redeem closed beta access keys and play.

Greg Wilson, Producer of Company of Heroes 2, commented, "We are excited to be able to launch the closed beta for Company of Heroes 2. We invite our fans to help us test and balance the game prior to launch, as well as see the changes we`ve already made since the Alpha test in December."

Quinn Duffy, Game Director, said "We`ve added two brand new maps to the roster for this phase as well as the four already in the Alpha Stress Test. Players can battle fiercely for control of the Oka River, or brave a close quarters skirmish on the outskirts of Moscow."

Underpinned by the cutting-edge Essence 3.0 Engine, Company of Heroes 2 brings tactical strategy to life like never before, thanks to the realistic ColdTech weather system, the revolutionary dynamic line of sight system TrueSight, and realistic destructibility.

The original Company of Heroes was released on the PC in 2006 to critical acclaim and is currently the highest rated strategy title on Gamerankings.com (with more than five reviews), with an average of 93.82% based on 56 reviews. The game features similar acclaim on Metacritic.com with a Metascore of 93% based on 55 reviews.

Company of Heroes 2 will be available for PC in June 2013.

About Company of Heroes 2

It is 1941 and the beginning of what will become the most brutal conflict of
World War II, as Germany launches a full-scale invasion of the frozen tundra of
the Soviet Union which would result in over 14 million military casualties. Take
command of the iconic Soviet Red Army in brutal frontline warfare to free Mother
Russia from the invading Nazis. Your strategic skills and tactical expertise
hold the power to tip the very balance of this conflict in the sequel to the
critically acclaimed and multi award-winning Company of Heroes. Engage in
visceral tactical combat that will define you as a military leader and challenge
you to wield the might of the Soviet Empire as you smash your way to Berlin.

About SEGA of America, Inc. & SEGA Europe Ltd.

SEGA of America, Inc. is the American arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA
Corporation, a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment both inside and
outside the home. The company develops, publishes and distributes interactive
entertainment software products for a variety of hardware platforms including
Windows PC, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Nintendo, Microsoft and
Sony Computer Entertainment. SEGA of America`s & SEGA Europe Ltd.'s Website is located at
www.sega.com.

SEGA of America, Inc.
Simon Watts

Hello everyone,

This morning we are proud to announce that on Tuesday, April 2nd, the Company of Heroes 2 Closed Beta will begin! For those of you counting, that's only four days away!

Closed Beta will be limited to pre-order customers only. THQ code holders (from shows like Eurogamer Expo) will be phased in shortly later. We are showing priority to our pre-order customers as a thank you for supporting us.

You can see more details on the closed beta, including some bits on the game modes that will be available, in our official press release or on SEGA blogs.

Also, we will be giving details on the private closed beta subforum soon. We will be using the official SEGA forums as the private beta tester forum platform to prevent the issues we had while trying to use our own forums for the Alpha Stress Test. I can promise you that if you're playing, you'll have access this time.