Game Icon Design for Global Update | Company of Heroes 3 Company of Heroes 3 is a real-time strategy game set during World War II. It’s a game where unit control, cover mechanics, and special abilities are the most important parts. No doubt that the game needed the right UI elements. Things like status and ability icons in particular are what you need for quick decision-making. Before a major update, the company noticed that the community wasn’t 100% satisfied with the new icons – in their opinion, they were inconsistent with the latest style. To save the game, a redesign was necessary. Our team’s task was to design a Company of Heroes 3 icons. We wanted to make clear and stylish icons to make the gameplay easier. So, let’s see how it turned out. Challenges & Goals of Icon Redesign New icons were functional enough, but it was not entirely it. These icons didn’t match the new visual style. Players found them difficult to read, especially during intense battles. Also, a lot of people said that they lacked uniqueness.You think that such a small thing as icons is not a big deal, but these issues actually impact gameplay. It was harder to recognize unit statuses and abilities at a glance. The community feedback was clear — icons needed improvement to better communicate important information. We started the RTS icon design with three main goals: consistent style, readability at different zoom levels, and authenticity. Updating the game app icon design was important to make the fanbase stay in the game. Company of Heroes Game Icons Set Concept Art We needed to have a balance between historical authenticity, stylized realism, and readability. To achieve this, the team needed to refine composition, focus, color balance, and detail. Yes, it was a lot of work.What did the design process look like? We experimented with different icon layouts. The task was to adjust contrasts for better visibility, so gameplay elements stand out clearly. Composition is what guides player attention, and the shift from cluttered to recognizable symbols really helps in redesign. Also, things like color adjustment are not the last on the list. Because of color, you can enhance the difference between abilities, even if the drawings are the same. It’s a great way to make quick recognition easier. Our concept art outsourcing studio also talked to the community and expected client feedback even during the redesign. It’s a great iterative approach if you don’t want to overdo and spoil work. What players need is historically accurate game icons which are usable in gameplay. In the end, we made an icon set that fits great in the game’s UI AND has a connection to its World War II setting. Icon Categories We Redesigned To improve contrast and define clearer borders is one task. The other task is to change 3D rendering to stylized realism, which we did to simplify elements. With the help of 2D icon design for RTS games, the players can recognize and choose what they need faster during combat. But the game had fractions, and each of them needed to look different. How did we solve that?The US Army icons have dynamic battlefield actions like airborne drops and vehicle reinforcements. Their design uses bright highlights and clear silhouettes.The British Army icons focus on strategic positioning and support abilities. We highlighted defensive tactics, artillery strikes, and unit coordination. All done by using bold, structured compositions for easy recognition of Company of Heroes 3 portraits.The Wehrmacht icons have a rigid feel, reinforcing the faction’s disciplined playstyle. The designs include strong geometric shapes and high-contrast elements.The Deutsches Afrikakorps (DAK) icons show their aggressive, mobility-focused tactics. This is why it shows desert warfare, with dust-toned color schemes and motion effects. This is why you need a 2D game art outsourcing approach for your RTS game projects. Because to draw icons is one thing, but to make them usable is completely another. Community-driven Approach to the Redesign Player feedback was central to the icon redesign process. Comments from Reddit, Steam forums, and other community hubs showed key issues we needed to fix. Many players found the existing icons difficult to read, too similar to each other, or lacking clarity. It’s important to read the feedback because RTS game icons are the main communication with gameplay. This is why a well-designed UI can make or break the player experience. The results spoke for themselves. The updated Icons for CoH 3 were met with positive feedback from players. Now everyone’s happy with the improved clarity and the return to a more authentic and functional style.