Company of Heroes 3 update introduces more than '1,300 bug fixes, changes and improvements' along with free and premium cosmetics

pcgamer.com:

Operation Sapphire Jackal, Company of Heroes 3's first «major» update, is out today. Relic has outlined what you can expect from the patch, including the ability to earn Merits that will allow you to unlock a variety of cosmetics from the in-game store, gussying up your troops. 

The highlight of the update is the Challenges system, which will give your multiplayer and comp stomp skirmishes more purpose by letting you earn Merits that can be spent on some cosmetics in the store. You'll be able to tackle random daily challenges which will be refreshed at 5 pm PT, as well as weekly challenges available each Saturday from 5 pm PT. 

New unit skins will work in multiplayer and singleplayer, some of which you'll be able to earn through Merits or War Bonds, while others will only be available for War Bonds. To get War Bonds you'll need to spend some cash on War Bond bundles, unfortunately, but Relic says there will always be cosmetics that you'll be able to earn for free when you visit the store. 

Check out some of the cosmetics below. 

Alongside the challenges and cosmetics are more than «1,300 bug fixes, changes and improvements». Here are some of the highlights ahead of the full patch notes:

Relic stresses that it's not made a full balance pass yet, but the update still includes «several changes to help shake up multiplayer and co-op». Here are the main gameplay changes: 

While there's a lot to like about the singleplayer campaigns, multiplayer and co-op vs AI skirmishes are what keep RTS romps ticking along, so it's good to see some more reasons to hop into a battle. The community largely seems pleased with what the latest update is touting, though players are still eager for replays and ranked multiplayer, which are