Its plot revolves around Gran Turismo player Jann Mardenborough, whose skills in the racing game take him to a string of Nissan-sponsored video game competitions. These then earn him the chance to get behind the wheel of a real race car and take those skills to an actual racetrack.

Like its predecessor, CoH 2 takes place during World War II. The new campaign starts in 1941 and focuses on the Eastern Front, with a story told through the eyes of a war correspondent. The Russian army is playable, and players will have to contend with a new environmental hazards due to the frozen environments.

Players are able to play a revised career mode consisting of ten full seasons rather than five seasons in previous games. The game includes the twenty-one circuits from the 2016 season and in-game commentary from David Croft and Anthony Davidson. The game also features all eleven teams and twenty-two drivers competing in the championship, including the return of Renault, and the brand-new Haas team. Esteban Ocon was however not included, as he did not replace Rio Haryanto until the game's pre-release development had ended.