THQ, the video game publisher behind titles such as the Saint’s Row and UFC Undisputed series’, officially announced today that a sequel to Company of Heroes is forthcoming. Company of Heroes 2 will be released for PC in early 2013.

Company of Heroes 2 will be a World War II real-time strategy game similar to the first Company of Heroes. This time, though, gamers will command Soviet troops on the war’s Eastern front. THQ is touting improved graphics, new commander abilities, and new environmental destruction. Greg Wilson, producer at Relic Entertainment, the studio developing the title, said, “Company of Heroes 2 is a true successor, introducing a new front, new protagonists and new technology while retaining the unique mix of strategic gameplay and competitive multiplayer that made the original Company of Heroes such a success.”

Gamers might be either pleased or disappointed to learn that downloadable content (DLC) for Company of Heroes 2 is already being planned. Such content schemes can extend the life of a multiplayer game and the community surrounding it, but can also be used to discourage used game sales and promote specific retailers. Danny Bilson, THQ’s Executive Vide President of Core Games, said, “We are excited to announce a sequel to one of THQ’s best loved properties. Company of Heroes 2 will deliver an amazing strategy experience along with a strong post-launch digital content plan that enhances and expands the product’s lifecycle.”

Though the “overdone” stink might still surround World War II video games, the shift of the last few years started by the Modern Warfare Titles toward modern-day soldiering might have left the genre open to revisit such an experience. It has been a while since a realistic World War II game has been hugely successful, and battling Nazis is something I’m sure many gamers miss. Destroying Hitler’s army might just be fun again, especially from the Red Army’s perspective.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and let me know.