How do I join the multiplayer beta on Android?

When the beta goes live on August 29th, you’ll need to opt in to the new beta version of the Company of Heroes app:

1. On your Android device, open the Play Store.
2. At the top right, tap your profile icon.
3. Tap Manage apps and devices → Installed.
4. Tap Company of Heroes to open its details page.
5. Under 'Join the beta', tap Join → Join. The multiplayer beta app will start to download.

After downloading the beta app, you will need to create a new Calico Beta account to access online multiplayer; you will be prompted to set this up when selecting New Game → Online Skirmish for the first time.

How do I leave the multiplayer beta?

To opt out of the beta and return to the standard retail version of the game:

1. On your Android device, open the Play Store.
2. At the top right, tap your profile icon.
3. Tap Manage apps and devices → Beta.
4. Tap Company of Heroes to open its details page.
5. Under 'You’re a beta tester', tap Leave → Leave.

Why do I need to own Opposing Fronts and Tales of Valor?

This is to ensure content parity between all players, so that lobbies are not split between players who own the DLCs and those who do not. This requirement will remain for the full multiplayer update.

How do I access multiplayer once I’ve signed up?

Once you have a Calico Beta account, select New Game → Online Skirmish from the Main Menu. Once you have logged in to Calico you will be given the option to join an existing lobby or create your own (see "How do I set up or join a game?" for more details).

How long will the beta run for?

Initially, there will be a beta weekend running from Thursday 29th August to Tuesday 3rd September, likely followed by other beta periods during the autumn.

How do I submit feedback?

You will be invited to complete a short survey at the end of each match to provide basic feedback.

To submit more detailed feedback, select Help → Email Support from the Main Menu.

I already have a Calico account, why do I need a new Calico Beta account?

The online multiplayer beta uses different servers to our main Calico multiplayer servers, meaning that a temporary Calico Beta account is required. At the end of the beta, these temporary accounts will be deleted and you will be able to access full online multiplayer using your existing Calico account.

What is the maximum player count?

Online Skirmish mode supports a maximum of four players per match.

What modes are available?

Online Skirmish mode offers both Annihilate and Victory Point Control modes.

How do I set up or join a game?

From the Main Menu select New Game → Online Skirmish.

To create your own lobby:

1. Select Host Game. The Host Game screen will appear.
2. Give your lobby a name in the Lobby Name field.
3. In the Password (Optional) field, enter a password to control access to the game. To allow any players to join, simply leave this field blank.
4. When you are happy with your lobby name and password, select the green arrow button in the bottom-right corner. The Skirmish Setup screen will appear, from which you can adjust match settings before starting the match with Start Now.

To join an existing lobby:

1. Select See Active Lobbies. The Lobbies screen will appear, with available lobbies shown on the left.
2. Selecting any lobby from the list will display its map and match settings on the right. Selecting Player Details will show the current players in the selected lobby.
3. To join a selected lobby, press the green arrow button in the bottom-right corner. If the lobby is password protected, you will be prompted to enter the password before joining.

Will there be a multiplayer beta on iOS or Nintendo Switch?

The beta is for Android only; there will not be a multiplayer beta on iOS or Switch.

However, learnings from the Android beta will also apply to iOS and Switch. Once it is ready, the full multiplayer update will be released for all three platforms simultaneously.

Why isn’t the multiplayer beta available on iOS or Switch?

Only the Google Play Store has the streamlined functionality for opt-in beta versions of existing apps. This allows us to iterate on a new beta version of the game without impacting the experience for existing Android players.

When will multiplayer be available on all three platforms?

There is currently no date set for the full multiplayer release on all three platforms. We will have more to announce as the Android beta program progresses. Its aim is to ensure that the Online Skirmish mode offers a great experience for all players, so it will run until we are confident that this is the case.

Will it be cross-platform?

Yes. The full online multiplayer update will be cross-platform between iOS, Android and Nintendo Switch players.

Will it be a free update?

The multiplayer update for Company of Heroes will be free, but online play requires ownership of both the Opposing Fronts and Tales of Valor DLCs.

The Nintendo Switch version of the game is the Company of Heroes Collection, which includes Opposing Fronts and Tales of Valor as standard (i.e. no further purchases are required to access multiplayer). Likewise, if you own the Company of Heroes Collection on iOS (as opposed to the standalone base game), you already own these DLCs.