Keeping hold of Company of Heroes was essential for Relic to leave Sega, Relic CEO says – “Without it we would have been a dead studio”

Relic CEO Justin Dowdeswell says retaining the rights to Company of Heroes was essential when the studio separated from Sega in 2024. The franchise gave Relic the ability to make future games in a series associated with its name, as well as income from sales of its older titles.

Dowdeswell says Relic’s other well-known properties, including Homeworld and Dawn of War, were split from the studio after THQ’s bankruptcy and subsequent auction. Relic was sold to UK investment firm Emona Capital, which negotiated the Company of Heroes rights as part of the deal; since then, the studio has focused largely on supporting the series and restoring its back catalogue.