In 2013, the original multiplayer servers (hosted by Quazal) were shut down, and the game transitioned to Steamworks. This led to two distinct versions appearing in libraries: activating retail CoH on steam... :: Company of Heroes
Combines the base game and expansions into a unified launcher. Multiplayer is fully active and handled by Steam. Accepts old retail codes for digital conversion. How to Redeem an Old Retail Code on Steam
Do you you are trying to activate?
Warning: If the box was previously opened, the code is likely locked to a dead THQ account or an existing Steam account and cannot be reused. 2. Buying a New Digital Product Key
Yes, but with extreme difficulty. If you have an original 2007 Retail Code, here is the only way to use it without buying a new product key: In 2013, the original multiplayer servers (hosted by
The distinction between a "product key" and a "retail code" for Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts is a relic of a bygone era. Thanks to the migration to Steamworks, both terms now refer to the same thing: a key that grants you access to the unified "New Steam Version" of the game.
In 2013, the game's original publisher (THQ) went bankrupt, and Sega acquired the franchise. Sega migrated the entire Company of Heroes ecosystem to Steamworks. This officially shut down the old retail server authentication network. The "New" New Steam Version Multiplayer is fully active and handled by Steam
Do not buy Opposing Fronts alone. The smartest move is to buy or the Company of Heroes Complete Pack on Steam.
: Retail codes often prove ownership of a specific physical edition (like the Anthology or Gold Edition), while digital product keys provide immediate access without needing a disc drive. How to Activate Your Key or Code on Steam Warning: If the box was previously opened, the
| Feature | Retail Code (Boxed Version) | Digital Product Key (New) | |---------|----------------------------|----------------------------| | | 5×5 alphanumeric (e.g., ABC12-DEF34-GHI56-JKL78-MNO90) | 4×5 or 5×5 alphanumeric, sometimes shorter | | Where found | Inside DVD case, on a sticker or manual | Email confirmation, Steam, or digital storefront | | Redeemable on | Legacy relic.net account (now closed) or manual patch | Steam (required for modern play) | | New purchase (2024+) | No longer sold as new retail | Sold as Steam key only | | Requires original CoH? | No – Opposing Fronts is standalone | No – standalone |
But here's the big advantage: If you have retail keys for multiple parts of the collection, you can activate all of them on your Steam account. Doing so will unlock all the respective campaigns and multiplayer armies within that single "New Steam Version." This means you don't need to download and install each expansion separately; everything is integrated.
In 2013, the original multiplayer servers (hosted by Quazal) were shut down, and the game transitioned to Steamworks. This led to two distinct versions appearing in libraries: activating retail CoH on steam... :: Company of Heroes
Combines the base game and expansions into a unified launcher. Multiplayer is fully active and handled by Steam. Accepts old retail codes for digital conversion. How to Redeem an Old Retail Code on Steam
Do you you are trying to activate?
Warning: If the box was previously opened, the code is likely locked to a dead THQ account or an existing Steam account and cannot be reused. 2. Buying a New Digital Product Key
Yes, but with extreme difficulty. If you have an original 2007 Retail Code, here is the only way to use it without buying a new product key:
The distinction between a "product key" and a "retail code" for Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts is a relic of a bygone era. Thanks to the migration to Steamworks, both terms now refer to the same thing: a key that grants you access to the unified "New Steam Version" of the game.
In 2013, the game's original publisher (THQ) went bankrupt, and Sega acquired the franchise. Sega migrated the entire Company of Heroes ecosystem to Steamworks. This officially shut down the old retail server authentication network. The "New" New Steam Version
Do not buy Opposing Fronts alone. The smartest move is to buy or the Company of Heroes Complete Pack on Steam.
: Retail codes often prove ownership of a specific physical edition (like the Anthology or Gold Edition), while digital product keys provide immediate access without needing a disc drive. How to Activate Your Key or Code on Steam
| Feature | Retail Code (Boxed Version) | Digital Product Key (New) | |---------|----------------------------|----------------------------| | | 5×5 alphanumeric (e.g., ABC12-DEF34-GHI56-JKL78-MNO90) | 4×5 or 5×5 alphanumeric, sometimes shorter | | Where found | Inside DVD case, on a sticker or manual | Email confirmation, Steam, or digital storefront | | Redeemable on | Legacy relic.net account (now closed) or manual patch | Steam (required for modern play) | | New purchase (2024+) | No longer sold as new retail | Sold as Steam key only | | Requires original CoH? | No – Opposing Fronts is standalone | No – standalone |
But here's the big advantage: If you have retail keys for multiple parts of the collection, you can activate all of them on your Steam account. Doing so will unlock all the respective campaigns and multiplayer armies within that single "New Steam Version." This means you don't need to download and install each expansion separately; everything is integrated.