Company Of Heroes Opposing Fronts Product Key Vs Retail Code New

A: Kind of. When you buy the Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts Product Key on Steam, it includes the base game (US Army) as well. However, the "Retail Code" for the DVD does not include this.

A Retail Code (often 20-25 characters long) was printed on the back of the physical game manual or on a card inside the DVD case in 2007. This code was used for two purposes:

Format Example: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

A Retail Code typically refers to the serial number printed on the manual or sticker inside a physical DVD box. A: Kind of

This is where most confusion arises. You cannot simply type a 2007 Product Key into the Steam "Activate a Product" window and expect it to work.

Here is the definitive compatibility chart:

| Type of Key | Works on Steam directly? | Works on Original DVD Install? | Recoverable to Steam? | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Old Physical Product Key (2007) | NO (Exception: very specific EU keys) | YES (but DRM fails often) | YES – via Relic’s legacy key transfer (now defunct) or manual support ticket | | NEW Retail Code (Digital) | YES (Universal) | NO (Not physically printed) | N/A – Already Steam-native | | THQ Nordic / Humble Bundle Key | YES | NO | N/A | This is where most confusion arises

Note: The original relic.net key redemption system is discontinued. You now need to convert or claim a Steam key via Sega / Relic legacy support.

Option A – Try directly in Steam (works for some late retail prints):

Option B – If Steam rejects the code:

| Term | What it is | Format Example | |------|------------|----------------| | Retail Code | A one-time use code printed inside a physical box or emailed from a digital store (like Direct2Drive, old GamersGate). This code is redeemed on a platform (e.g., Steam, Relic Online, or THQ’s old system) to unlock a permanent product key. | XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX (sometimes called a “CD key”) | | Product Key | The actual license key used by the game’s DRM (typically SecuROM or Steam) after redemption. For older physical copies, this is what you entered during installation. | Same format, but tied to the installation process. |

In practice, people often use the terms interchangeably. But historically, a “retail code” might need to be converted on a publisher’s website (e.g., THQ’s now-defunct key redemption system) to get a working “product key.”

In modern terminology, a Product Key (often called a CD Key or Steam Key) is the digital code used to redeem the game on a digital distribution platform like Steam or GOG. When you buy the game new today (from Humble Bundle, Green Man Gaming, or Steam itself), you receive a Product Key. In modern terminology

Format Example: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX (Steam uses 15 or 17 characters for older titles).

When you see a listing for a "New" Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts product, the difference between the code types determines the value of what you are buying.