THQ announced this morning that Company of Heroes 2, the sequel to its critically-acclaimed 2006 real-time strategy title, will storm retail in "early 2013." The sequel parts ways with the commonly covered Western Front of World War 2 and has players taking control of the Russian Red Army to the east, as they repel the Nazis.

Relic will utilize the "state of the art" Essence 3.0 Engine for prettier environmental destruction and graphicalizations.

"Company of Heroes 2 is a true successor, introducing a new front, new protagonists and new technology," said Greg Wilson, producer at Relic. "While retaining the unique mix of strategic gameplay and competitive multiplayer that made the original Company of Heroes such a success."

Due to its current financial condition, THQ won't be showing Company of Heroes 2 on the E3 show floor, but will hopefully be giving a taste of the title in meeting rooms upstairs at the show in a month.