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Company of Heroes 2 (CoH2), released by Relic Entertainment in 2013, relies heavily on the Steamworks API for multiplayer functionality, including matchmaking, voice chat, and network synchronization via Steam Relay servers. This architecture, while robust for public matchmaking, lacks native support for Local Area Network (LAN) play. For over a decade, this omission has been a point of contention for the player base, particularly in regions with poor internet infrastructure or for competitive tournament settings. This paper explores the technical challenges of implementing LAN functionality in CoH2, analyzes the existing "LAN Update" modifications (mods) created by the community, and discusses the legal and ethical implications of third-party network interception in modern RTS gaming. company of heroes 2 lan upd
: A significant past update enabled 64-bit support and crossplay between Windows Store/Microsoft Game Pass users, but this still requires online connectivity. Maintenance Status On every PC (Host & Clients): Company of
The lan upd issue persists because the game uses , which still routes discovery packets through Valve's US Central servers. Yes, even for a PC two feet away. This paper explores the technical challenges of implementing