THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) today announced the launch of the Company of Heroes®Online Closed Beta for North America, with an exclusive access period available via FilePlanet.com, IGN Entertainment’s premier digital file download service.

Developed by THQ’s Relic Entertainment studio, creators of the award-winning Company of Heroes and Dawn of War™ franchises, Company of Heroes Online is an online multiplayer real-time-strategy game that is free to download and play. Building on the frenetic Real-Time-Strategy action of the original Company of Heroes, Company of Heroes Online offers army specialization, commander customization, and persistent progression. Players will enter each match with a unique selection of upgrades and hero units with new items and experience earned with every match played.

The Company of Heroes Online Beta will feature two different armies, the Allies and Axis each with three different divisions offering players a choice of play style. The beta will feature 17 different multiplayer maps, which will be split between 1v1, 2v2, 3v3 and 4v4 modes. Players of the Company of Heroes Online Beta will also be able to enjoy the single player campaign from Company of Heroes for free.

On July 21st a few lucky Company of Heroes community members will receive keys in their inbox giving them access to the testing phase of the closed beta. Following this, on the 26th July, the closed beta will officially launch with 20,000 keys up for grabs on IGN Entertainment’s FilePlanet.com. FilePlanet is the premier online destination for PC gamers to find the files they need, whether it’s the latest hot demo, patches for their current favorite game, access to exclusive Betas or downloadable content to expand and extend their adventures. This promotion will run until the 30th of July.

Travis Plane, Vice President of Global Brand Management commented, “The beauty of Company of Heroes Online being free to play is that it is now accessible at no risk to anyone who might have missed out on this award winning RTS before. Novice RTS players can now experience it for free and enjoy the game at whatever level and pace they feel comfortable with. The more experienced RTS player can really get into the trenches of the game with weapons & equipment upgrades and the new progression mechanic.”

Sutton Trout, Vice President of Digital Content for IGN Entertainment stated, “FilePlanet is known as the preeminent site for gamers to gain access to the hottest game Beta tests and THQ’s Company of Heroes is of huge interest to our audience. We expect those twenty thousand keys for the game to go very quickly.”

About Company of Heroes Online

The critically acclaimed real-time strategy game, Company of Heroes, will be available as a unique free-to-play micro-transaction online multiplayer experience. Take command of your company as you wage online warfare across the ravaged battlefields of World War II-era Europe. Choose from one of six different divisions, from the brutal German Blitzkrieg to the deadly efficient Allied Airborne, each with its own combat style and unique Commander Abilities. Customize your army and enter each battle with your own unique set of battle-tested Heroes, upgrades, and devastating Commander Abilities. Become the ultimate military commander as you unlock new abilities with every conflict and build your army with every victory.