Why Relic Entertainment had to fight for Company of Heroes during the Sega split

For nearly 30 years, Relic Entertainment has been a heavyweight in the real-time strategy genre, delivering classics like Homeworld, Dawn of War, and Company of Heroes. However, the studio’s transition to independence in 2024 was nearly derailed before it even began. In a recent interview with Rock Paper Shotgun, Relic CEO Justin Dowdeswell revealed that retaining the rights to the Company of Heroes franchise was a non-negotiable requirement for the studio’s survival.

Following their separation from Sega to join the UK investment firm Emona Capital LLP, Dowdeswell made it clear that the studio’s future depended entirely on securing their flagship title. “Without it we would have been a dead studio,” he told Rock Paper Shotgun. Dowdeswell noted that many studios fail when they lack the brand recognition and ongoing revenue streams provided by their back catalogs, a lesson learned from the studio’s history following the 2013 THQ bankruptcy auction, where franchises like Homeworld and others were fragmented across different owners.

Strategic foundation and future plans

Since the sale, Relic has pivoted toward a model of self-publishing and community-focused development. This shift has allowed them to dedicate resources to the massive 3.0 update for Company of Heroes 3, which improved audio, NPC AI, and the game’s Italy campaign, alongside new faction DLC. Additionally, the studio is revisiting its history by working on definitive editions of older titles, including the original Company of Heroes and Dawn of War.

Dowdeswell explained that this focus on existing titles isn’t just maintenance—it is a financial necessity that funds the studio’s future. By iterating quickly on live games, Relic maintains a direct connection with players while building the internal capability required to eventually create new experiences. While Dowdeswell remained tight-lipped on specific upcoming projects, he confirmed that the studio intends to remain within the strategy space. He noted that while they are exploring genres outside of traditional RTS, the team is not looking to stray into vastly different territory like racing games.

Why it matters

For players, this news provides a look at the “why” behind the recent cadence of updates and definitive edition releases for Relic’s library. The studio’s survival as an independent entity relies on the financial success of these back-catalog titles and the engagement metrics of Company of Heroes 3.

Fans should watch for continued support for Company of Heroes 3—including the upcoming Operation Torch DLC—as these iterations serve as the primary engine driving the studio toward its next major project. While the studio is currently quiet on exactly what those future “strategic” experiments look like, their focus on self-publishing suggests they are prioritizing long-term stability over the rapid, risky release cycles that currently plague many parts of the gaming industry.