In a press release sent out today, THQ has deigned to shed some light on their plans for Company of Heroes 2’s release incentives. There will be a selection of such incentives for pre-ordering, as well as the option to purchase a Digital Collector’s Edition of the game.
Regarding pre-order bonuses, those who pre-purchase from participating retailers will gain access to two vehicle skins for the German Rotbraun and Soviet Leningrad, both medium weight vehicles. These will be globally available; a select few retailers will also be offering closed beta access to the game. On Steam, a tiered reward system is in place (much like that seen for X-COM: Enemy Unknown) and begins with a couple of hats for Team Fortress 2, then a free copy of Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II: Retribution (giftable) and, with enough pre-orders, the “Commissar Chest,” which grants players some in-game currency for content purchases, an XP boost, a unit boost and a Commander archetype.
Going through Origin instead? A measly heavy vehicle skin.
ShopTHQ customers, though, will gain the Command Pass, which includes a few bonus multiplayer maps and some “exclusive members-only events.” The pass will be available for purchase post-release, for those who pre-order elsewhere.
Finally, the Digital Collector’s Edition: Retailing for $99.99, this version of the game includes access to the first three single-player “Content Packs” as they become available, the aforementioned Command Pass, an additional pair of heavy vehicle skins, and a Veteran badge to display on one’s in-game profile. On the functional end of the spectrum, this edition will come with the original Company of Heroes and both of its expansion packs, which is currently a $50 value on Steam. That makes the Digital Collector’s Edition a worthwhile purchase for those who want to jump into the series headfirst.
No word, as of yet, on a specific release date, though we know THQ is still shooting for early 2013.