Hey everyone,

A hotfix for Update 13 'Burning Snow' is now live! We are very grateful to the community for continuing to submit feedback and share their experience with Update 13.

For a comprehensive list of changes for this hotfix, please read the changelog below.

Hotfix Changelog

Weapons
Increased Flamethrower damage so that players will now be killed faster when in the direct line of fire. This aims to address feedback from the community surrounding players getting hit with a Flamethrower and having too much time to fire back and kill the wielder.

We have also increased ground fire for both Flamethrowers and Molotovs from 40 to 80 to address feedback around fire not resulting in kills as quickly as expected.


Bug Fixes
[Fixed] Players can unlock the achievement "Rollin' In The Jeep" via incorrect methods
[Fixed] M40 Winter Coat looking the same as M43 Winter Coat
[Fixed] Steady aiming with the Panzerschreck causes it to disappear
[Fixed] Garrisons placed by Recon can't be used by any other unit
[Fixed] Using ammunition boxes causes character models to T-Pose
[Fixed] Swapping from the Flamethrower / MG to any item while continuously walking causes the character to T-Pose


Kharkov
[Fixed] Some trees collided with vehicles and often launched them into the air
[Fixed] The wooden fences disappear when viewed from around 100m
[Fixed] Stones have no collision with the player and bullets
[Fixed] Pile of snow has no collision with the player
[Fixed] Electricity poles do not present any type of collision
[Fixed] No bullet collision is present on a well asset
[Fixed] Players can reach the church back roof by climbing a wall with no collision
[Fixed] Invisible floating collision present in the roof area of the church
[Fixed] "Your team is losing a Critical Sector!" hint appears when first capture point is attacked
[Fixed] A gate presents an invisible collision box
[Fixed] Destroyed Tank Wreck Has No Bullet Collision
[Fixed] Snowy mud assets throughout map (on trenches, fences, and more) is visibly low res and pixelated
[Fixed] Players can reach the church front balcony via the roof area of the church
[Fixed] Two columns in the church are missing a texture
[Fixed] Misaligned snowbank present on a hill
[Fixed] Inside the church there is floating terrain that the player can stand on top of
[Fixed] A fence is floating above the terrain
[Fixed] Train wagon is clipping through the rocks
[Fixed] Misaligned stone asset can be found in some sectors


All Maps
Rebuilt HLODs for all maps

Known Issues

- Players may crash when loading into any variant of the map Kursk
- German Machine Guns disappear while mounted and ADSing at specific angles


Don’t forget that if you haven’t checked out the other Hell Let Loose socials you should do so. Like our Discord you will find them great places for information and community interaction.


Join the Discord here https://discord.gg/hellletloose

Our other social platforms can be found here:

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/HellLetLoose/
Twitter https://twitter.com/hell_let_loose
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/c/HellLetLoose
Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/HellLetLoose/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hellletlooseofficial/
Steam http://steamcommunity.com/groups/HellLetLoose

Thank you to everyone who gave feedback on their experience with Update 13 and provided detailed accounts of the issues encountered. It has greatly helped shape these fixes.

Now that you won't be able to hide in rocks anymore, we’ll see you all on the frontline!

Hey everyone,

The day is upon us, Update 13 ‘Burning Snow’, is out now across all platforms!

Burning Snow brings fast and fiery warfare to the game with Flamethrowers and Molotovs, as well as jeeps for all factions; landing alongside a brand new winter map, Kharkov, new Winter Uniforms, and an exciting new DLC pack.

Check out the official teaser for Update 13, Burning Snow and the changelog below:

Update 13 Changelog

Vehicles

• Added Soviet T-70 Light Tank
  
• Added Jeeps to all factions:
  
  
  Faction

  Vehicles

  GER

  Kubelwagen

  US

  Willys Jeep

  SOV

  GAZ-67

Weapons

• Added Flamethrowers:
  
  
  Faction

  Role

  Level

  GER

  Support

  Level 8

  US

  Support

  Level 8
• Added Molotovs:
  
  
  Faction

  Role

  Level

  SOV

  Assault

  Level 9

  SOV

  Support

  Level 6

  SOV

  Automatic Rifleman

  Level 3

  SOV

  Rifleman

  Level 6
  
  
• DP-27 buff - Reduced recoil while brace firing from 0.75 to 0.2 and increased damage from 65 at 75 meters to 100 at 150 meters

Loadouts

• Added Lend-Lease Bazooka loadout for Soviet Anti-Tank Level 8

Maps

• Added Kharkov - Warfare - Offensive GER - Warfare SOV
  
• Added fire damage logic to preplaced fire assets across all maps

Gameplay/Features

• Added persistent dismantle progression (saves progress for 5 seconds of inactivity)
  
• Added shared dismantle progression (dismantles faster the more people there are assisting)
  
• Improved Satchel placement logic
  
• Improved Satchel damage consistency
  
• Vehicle engines now drown when being submerged in water
  
• Added new achievements:
  Frozen Fields
  You... Shall Not... Spawn!
  Who's Garry?
  Fast Track Delivery
  Track and Trace
  One Hit Wonder!
  Firestarter
  Medium-Rare
  Extra Crispy Please
  Fight Fire with Fire
  This Is a Flammenwerfer, It Werfs Flammen
  Hans! Get Ze Flammenwerfer!
  Disco Inferno!
  Molotov Party!
  Za Zdorovie!
  Jeep Let Loose
  Jeepers!
  Drop it Like Its Hot!
  Dear Devs...
  Liar, Liar, Pants of Fire!
  Like a Moth to a Flame...
  Get that Windshield Up!
  Rollin' In The Jeep

Cosmetics

• Skull Bucket DLC:
  
  GER - Paratrooper Fallschirmjäger M38
  GER - Double Decal Police M35
  US - 101st Airborne 506th PIR Paratrooper M1
  US - 29th Infantry Division M1
  SOV - 1941 Model Blockaded Leningrad Helmet
  SOV - M36 Budenovka Winter Cap
  
  
• Winter Warfare DLC:
  
  GER - Winter Covered Fallschirmjäger M38
  US - Winter Covered M1
  SOV - Winter Covered SSh-40
  SOV - Winter Toques
  
  
• Base Winter Uniforms:
  
  US - M1943 Winter Uniform
  SOV - Ameba Winter Uniform
  GER - Heer Schneetarnjacke Winter Smok
  
  
• Base Winter Helmets:
  
  GER - White Painted M42
  US - White Painted M1
  SOV - Winter Painted SSh-36
  SOV - Winter Painted SSh-40
  SOV - White Ushanka
  SOV - White Tied Ushanka

HUD/UI

• Added the ability to set cosmetic presets in the Barracks and Loadout screens
  
• Added additional non-verbal comms:
  Precision Strike
  Request Ammo

Optimization

• Refactored the animation system to use fewer bones per character mesh
  
• Particle and decal FX optimization
  
• Improved LoDs for vehicles

Effects

• Added variation to the Bombing Run explosion FX

Sounds

• OPs/Garrisons/Half-tracks radio effect now fades to static noise when overrun by the enemy
  
• Added UI SFX for deploy countdown in the final 3 seconds

Animation

• Refactored a new animation system. This should result in increased performance and smoother animations in TPP

Server Administration

• Map rotations now allow for duplicate entries of the same map
  
• Added ability for admins to direct message players via RCON
  
• Added RCON command to display game state information (team sizes, score, remaining time, current map, next map)
  
• Steam64ID is now displayed in the Connect/Disconnect log
  
• [Fixed] Temporary Bans Not Removed From RCon List Once Ban Timer Expires

Bug Fixes

• [Fixed] Method which allowed non-recon roles to spawn on a Recon OP
  
• Improved ‘Shots Hit’ statistic to not count structures/vehicles shot with firearms
  
• [Fixed] Drivers can no longer turn off the engine to ‘stealth roll’ long distances in vehicles
  
• [Fixed] Incorrect plane used to drop Ammo Drop for RUS/GER
  
• [Fixed] The deploy button disappears when the player resigns the Commander role then creates/joins another unit without changing the role
  
• [Fixed] The Russian Commander Fuel abilities list order isn't consistent and changes
  
• [Fixed] Satchel Charges won't destroy barbed wire at certain distances
  
• [Fixed] German Fuel Nodes are unable to be destroyed with Satchel Charges
  
• [Fixed] Gunshot SFX can still be heard after the player that is shooting with certain weapons dies
  
• [Fixed] The "Back" button in the Barracks menu does not work correctly immediately after a new favorite role is selected
  
• [Fixed] 'Resign as commander' button doesn't disappear after rejoining previously created armor/recon unit
  
• [Fixed] Panther (German Heavy) has a shorter cooldown after spawning it compared to the Tiger
  
• [Fixed] Machine gun cannot be mounted in specific type of buildings across all the maps
  
• [Fixed] Receiving an invite/request while on the deploy screen will block a player from leaving the loadout menu once accessed
  
• [Fixed] [FPP] The German Small Ammunition box, Medical Supplies box and Explosive Ammo box have identical models when held in hand
  
• [Fixed] "This sector is locked" hint triggers unproperly in deployment screen
  
• [Fixed] Some achievements contain spelling errors
  
• [Fixed] "Rain Hell" achievement does not unlock when killing 10 players with one projectile of the Katyusha strike
  
• [Fixed] Attempting to join a server through a direct link does not launch the game or connect the player to a server if the game is running
  
• [Fixed] Joining servers through the Steam Servers option with the game closed will leave the player on the Front-End
  
• [Fixed] The player is unable to join a server through another player or by an invite when using the Steam Overlay
  
• [Fixed] Muzzle flash FX is missing from DP-27 Machine Gun
  
• [Fixed] US Medium Tank M4A3 has no SFX when colliding with objects
  
• [Fixed] At very specific angles Trucks would sometimes not receive damage
  
• [Fixed] Floating fireball is visible after vehicle engines are damaged and repaired
  
• [Fixed] Tanks moving in reverse will automatically change to Gear 1 when the tracks are destroyed
  
• [Fixed] Player doesn't get AFK kick after he already received one if the idle time is changed via RCon
  
• [Fixed] Satchel damage against Belgian gates is inconsistent
  
• [Fixed] Walking into supply truck crates causes the dropping sound effect to be played
  
• [Fixed] AP and HE shells are unable to suppress enemy players
  
• [Fixed] Supply box achievements count boxes placed instead of total supplies provided
  
• [Fixed] Destroying the Panther rewards the player with the wrong combat score
  
• [Fixed] Hull and coaxial machine guns do not reload after exiting and entering during reloading
  
• [Fixed] Opening the game in windowed mode with certain resolutions will cause the top bar to appear off screen
  
• [Fixed] Closing scoreboard while opening personal stats page will cause scoreboard to not appear
  
• [Fixed] Choosing the Bill Head on a US role equips the player with the Hans Head from the German side
  
• [Fixed] Kills With The RG-42 Grenade and Mk2 Grenade Are Not Recorded If Thrown Post Death
  
• [Fixed] Soldiers don't have 3rd person animation for vertical aiming movements on specific map HQs
  
• [Fixed] Head rotates unnaturally after being revived
  
• [Fixed] The Russian Half-Track appears in the wrong part of the Russian Commander ability list
  
• [Fixed] No animation transition present when ADS with Flare Gun
  
• [Fixed] Some helmets fall through the ground after a player is headshot

Carentan

• [Fixed] Some crater assets allowed players to see under the terrain

Purple Heart Lane

• [Fixed] Player can spawn into closed house in C8
  
• [Fixed] Invisible wall collision is present on a section of stone wall along the main road

Remagen

• [Fixed] Rubble can be seen through when prone
  
• [Fixed] There is a kill volume in sector E10 that makes vehicles disappear
  
• [Fixed] Misaligned Train
  
• [Fixed] Multiple visual issues around a trench
  
• [Fixed] There is a large misaligned dirt pile near a German Bunker
  
• [Fixed] Mud embankment along road is misaligned in multiple places

Kursk

• [Fixed] Light can be see shining through the ground
  
• [Fixed] Floating grass is present in certain areas
  
• [Fixed] Misaligned terrain texture present in sector C9
  
• [Fixed] A pair of wooden gates are not connected to any fence
  
• [Fixed] The artillery shells are misaligned with the terrain
  
• [Fixed] Two metal barrels in certain location are clipping through a wooden fence

Stalingrad

• [Fixed] Players can clip into a specific metal roof and hide from enemies
  
• [Fixed] One of the buildings in the vicinity of the Nail Factory lacks collision below the staircase on the ground floor

Utah

• Repair stations spawn in American HQs on US-Offensive
  
• [Fixed] Some hedge instances being able to block bullets

Known Key Issues

• Infrequently a player’s face texture may become misaligned

Don’t forget that if you haven’t checked out the other Hell Let Loose socials you should do so. Like our discord you will find them great places for information and community interaction.


Join the Discord here https://discord.gg/hellletloose

Our other social platforms can be found here:

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/HellLetLoose/
Twitter https://twitter.com/hell_let_loose
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/c/HellLetLoose
Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/HellLetLoose/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hellletlooseofficial/
Steam http://steamcommunity.com/groups/HellLetLoose


We also wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who took part in the recent PTE sessions and provided feedback ahead of release, we appreciate the time you take to share your experiences.

Now it’s time to bring the heat with Update 13! We’ll see you all on the frontline!

Hey Everyone,

It's time for another update from the trenches! After the rollout of the first two U13 PTEs, with players having their first hands-on experience with most of the U13 content, we have a LOT to highlight here today, including; the U13 release date, a new full time Community Manager, animation optimisation, Steam free weekend, and the new premium DLC bundle that will be rolling out alongside U13.

Update 13 ‘Burning Snow’ Release date Tuesday December 6th!

Time is almost upon us, as many have noticed over the last few months we have been highlighting and in some cases sneak peeking into the upcoming Burning Snow update for Hell Let Loose.

This week, we are excited to confirm that the update will be going live on Tuesday the 6th of December, across all platforms!



Burning Snow has some great features which we think players new and old alike will enjoy. We feel that providing a brief summary of some of the items in the update might be worthwhile for you all to get a glimpse of what is coming before Tuesday, December 6th.

Some of the items to watch out for in the new ‘Burning Snow’ update include:

New Vehicles:

• T-70 Light Tank
  
• Jeeps for all factions USA, Germany and Soviet

New Weapons:

• US: M2-2 Flamethrower
  
• GER: Flammenwerfer41
  
• SOV: Molotovs
  
• SOV: Bazooka

New Map:

• Kharkov (Snow map)

Additional Improvements:

• Updated and improved Player Animations
  
• Updated and improved Uniform Loadout presets
  
• UI Improvements

And a host of fixes and bugs squashed. In addition to the above, lots of work has been done to iron out a magnitude of small items like minor terrain glitches etc.

The above is merely a short summary of the bulk of the Burning Snow update. Upon release, we will disclose the full changelog which illustrates in detail all the improvements and changes made with this latest update.

Welcome to WombatMedic, the new Full Time Community Manager!

Throughout the last 12 months, both the Hell Let Loose team and community have continued to expand, and as part of that growth, we are thrilled to welcome and introduce Alisha ‘WombatMedic’, as our new full time Community Manager!

Alisha will be dedicated to supporting you on the frontlines, and has already been working away behind the scenes for several weeks and can’t wait to meet you all.

She’ll be jumping into Discord chat today to introduce herself, so head over there and give her a warm welcome!

Free Weekend December 01

Starting December 1st, there will be a free weekend for Hell Let Loose on all platforms. If you have a friend or family member that is keen to hit the trenches on the frontlines of HLL, this weekend will give them the opportunity to do so for a limited time, for free.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/686810/Hell_Let_Loose/

Animation Optimisation - Bones Rework

Amongst the quality of life updates we are implementing to U13 we have included the first iteration of an animation optimisation improvement. This is done through a rework of the animation bones used in the player models.

The purpose of the animation optimisation is to improve the look and feel of the animations, whilst optimising the performance of the third-person skeleton.

First, we optimised the TPP skeleton by removing excess bones which reduces draw calls and improves performance. This involved removing about 20 bones on the skeleton. This reduces calls by more than 2000 per frame to help boost fps. Next we added twist bone constraints and re-skinned all the skeletal meshes for more accurate bone placement. This improves fidelity of mesh deformation and makes for smoother animation visuals. Arms and legs bend cleaner and animations appear smoother and more natural.

Helmet Pack - Skull Bucket

With the release of Update 13 we are also rolling out a new DLC cosmetics pack for players to purchase and enjoy. With the adept name of ‘Skull Bucket’, this DLC pack will feature 2 unique helmets for each faction of US, Germany and Soviet forces. The helmets include the following:

• US - 101st Airborne 506th PIR Paratrooper M1
  
• US - 29th Infantry Division M1
  
• Germany - Paratrooper M38 Fallschirmjäger Helmet
  
• Germany - M35 Double Decal Police Helmet
  
• Soviet - 1941 Model Blockaded Leningrad Helmet
  
• Soviet - M36 Budenovka Winter Cap

Let's take a look at how these helmets look with some detailed renders by our character artist.


US - 101st Airborne 506th PIR Paratrooper M1


US - 29th Infantry Division M1


Germany - M35 Double Decal Police Helmet


Germany - Paratrooper M38 Fallschirmjäger Helmet


Soviet - 1941 Model Blockaded Leningrad Helmet


Soviet - M36 Budenovka Winter Cap

Community Highlight

Today, we are giving a shout out to the HLL Seasonal competition, which has been running for some time now, with many groups involved. The Seasonal has been a great insight into the competitive side of HLL. If you are curious, you can check it out below.

The HLL Seasonal Tournament, one of the largest worldwide community driven competitions, is returning for its fifth edition. Pitting 33 teams in 90 games over the course of 16 weeks, the HLL Seasonal Fall 2022 edition will once again be the peak of competitive HLL.

Again, the world's top teams fight for the fall crown in 4 stages: First, second, main and the feared play-off stage, with the event currently being in the main stage. All the games are being broadcast - check out discord.gg/hllseasonal for more information on where to catch the games live.

The Discord is also the best place for any additional content regarding the HLL Seasonal: make your predictions on the games, follow the map eliminations, and come support your team! The HLL Seasonal has, as always, a wide variety of casters from all over the world, which will cover most matches in English - and some in German, French, Spanish, Chinese and more. If you have missed a match, you may find some of them in #replayschannel of the HLL Seasonal Discord.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_U0OC5ilq8

War Correspondent, Content Creator and Community HLL Videos

Time for some more community highlights from the below creators. We highly recommend giving them a watch.
If you see a Video you like make sure to post in the Discord #hll-videos channel.

Most Chaotic Game Of Hell Let Loose I've Played - TallGrass
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mi1aozNLrOs

Battle Highlights: Carentan Offensive - November 9, 2022 - SoulSniper
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zz2fgwQM6Cw

Hell Let Loose Gameplay and Laughs 16 - Tiger_Mafia Gaming
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z56MvLgqoFI

Don’t forget that if you haven’t checked out the other Hell Let Loose socials you should do so. Like our discord you will find them great places for information and community interaction.


Join the Discord here https://discord.gg/hellletloose

Our other social platforms can be found here:

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/HellLetLoose/
Twitter https://twitter.com/hell_let_loose
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/c/HellLetLoose
Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/HellLetLoose/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hellletlooseofficial/
Steam http://steamcommunity.com/groups/HellLetLoose

Well, it's time to free up some SSD space for U13 and wrap up today's Dev Brief.
See you all on the frontline!

Hey everyone,

Last week we caught a glimpse of the new winter map, Kharkov, and the first iteration on the base for our future winter uniforms. With just enough time to take a quick breath, the programmers and artists have been able to share some more on the content for our next update.

In today’s brief, we’re heating things up with flamethrowers for the US and Axis, Molotovs for the Soviets, jeeps for all factions and a peek at the new cosmetic loadout preset options. Let's take a look at these latest items, starting with Flames and Fastmovers!

Flamethrowers

Feeling the chill on the frontline? Here’s something you can warm up to!
The team are excited for the addition of Flamethrowers and Molotovs for use on the frontlines, which will surely bring out some great action and visuals to the fields of combat.


WIP of the Flammenwerfer41 Being put to work

The flamethrowers are brutal pieces of equipment that will make short work of infantry in close quarters action.

The flamethrowers will not only set troops, but also the surrounding area alight. Due to its power the flamethrowers can only be used in a brace fire stance. These flame-dealing units will allow the user to wield their stream of flames for approximately 20 seconds of sustained fire until it needs to be replenished with fuel.

Not only if you are directly hit by the flamethrower, burning items around its path will also inflict damage to the unwary. The area of effect that is burning will be a big discouragement for any troops who dare to walk in the path of any area alight with flames as it will cause damage. If you like the sound of a flamethrower in your kit and want to ‘get your burn on’, then you will have to work for it!. Initially, with the implementation of flamethrowers, only the US and German Support role at level 10 will be able to equip this sizzling piece of equipment.

There will be two models of the flamethrower. Let's take a look at them together below:


WIP pictures of the Flamethrowers. The left unit is a US: M2-2 Flamethrower. The right unit is a German: Flammenwerfer41


Close quarters combat will become even more brutal, as this US soldier using a M2-2 Flamethrower demonstrates.


This Axis soldier is ensuring the building is clear with the Flammenwerfer41


Trench warfare will take on a whole new meaning with Flamethrowers deployed at the front.

Molotovs

A handy item about the size of a grenade and throwable at your enemy, Molotovs were a cheap and popular item of use during most battles on the frontlines. Soviets will have greater access to this weapon compared to the US/Axis’ fiery flamethrower counterpart, with Molotovs being available to the Soviet Support role at level 6 and the Assault at level 9.

Although shorter than a flamethrower in its duration, the Molotov, when used correctly, will have your foes running in fear. A single direct hit on enemy troops will easily add to the throwers kill count alongside setting the immediate area alight. Like flamethrowers, if unwary troops stand on burning ground they will receive a nasty bite of fire damage for their troubles.


Molotovs were a cheap and popular item of use during most battles on the frontlines.


WIP - Soviet Troop hurling Molotovs into a trench.

Crispy Critters

To complement the fire breathing flamethrower and pocket paraffin Molotovs, we have also introduced an initial implementation of new uniform texturing to reflect characters being hit by these weapons.


A WIP picture of a charred Axis soldier pondering his next move.


Ground environments, vehicles, and even bodies will burn for a time after being hit with flame weapons.

Vehicles: Including Willys Jeep, Kubelwagen and Gaz-67

We are also pleased to showcase these new vehicles, especially the Jeeps! As our backers and veterans will know, jeeps were one of the first vehicles we had shown. We never intended on taking this long to introduce them to the game, however, we are now happy to announce their much anticipated inclusion.

Each faction will now have a jeep option; the US with the Willys, Axis with the Kubelwagen and the Soviets with the Gaz-67 to round out this trio.


Kubelwagen


Gaz-67


Willys Jeep


Traverse the wintry terrain.


Being small and nimble will be the biggest asset for jeeps.

Not only as a mode of transport, the jeeps will also offer a limited ammunition resupply for troops on the ground. This is done by the driver of the jeep (when parked) and selecting to deploy ammo, in a similar way that a truck drops supplies. These vehicles can drop 2 ammo boxes before requiring a ‘return to base’ re-supply. The ammo box functions similar to the ammo crates dropped by the Commander although they come in smaller quantities allowing for only 6 resupplies.


Being able to quickly drop their supply then move off is a major benefit for jeeps deploying ammo.

Loadout presets

With the addition of a new snow map we thought that now would be a great time to allow players the ability to set cosmetic presets. Now when accessing the loadout screen players will be greeted with a “Preset #1” and “Preset #2” option below the Appearance tab. Switching between presets will remember your last configured cosmetics for that preset, allowing players for example to create a preset wearing snow camouflage that they can easily switch to when moving from a lush green environment to a snowy one.

PTE For Update 13 Next Week!

With progress coming along nicely, we’re excited to announce the beginning of PTE testing for Update 13, with the first session kicking off next week. We will endeavour to message early in the week as to the exact date and time of the PTE.

As always, we greatly appreciate all who participate, whether it’s to provide valuable feedback and bug reports, or simply help out with the numbers to test server loads and other items. We’ll also be jumping into battle amongst the ranks on the day, so if you have the time or are just curious, we would love to hear from you!

If this is your first time wanting to participate in a PTE, you’ll need to head over to the Discord where you can find information on how to join and get notifications on when a testing period is live. A full changelog can be viewed in the HLL official discord in the #pte-Info channel on the day.

A quick reminder of what’s included:

• New Map Kharkov
  
• Winter Base Uniforms for all factions
  
• Flamethrowers
  
• Molotovs
  
• Fastmovers - Willys Jeep, Kubelwagen and Gaz-67
  
• Soviet T-70 Light Tank
  
• Appearance loadout option for uniforms
  
• Various QOL items
  
• And a host of other gameplay improvements and fixes

War Correspondent, Content Creator and Community HLL Videos

Time for some more community highlights from the below creators! We highly recommend giving them a watch!

If you see a Video you like, make sure to post in the Discord #hll-videos channel.

Hell Let Loose - WW2 through a Sniper's Scope - Alpine Sniper
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8BevPdzIno

Player Interactions In Hell Let Loose Are GOLD - TallGrass
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4IAPyLvXhg

HELL LET LOOSE IN 2022 IS GREAT - Tantwo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHwvDq7cCAY

Don’t forget that if you haven’t checked out the other Hell Let Loose socials you can find their details below. Like our Discord, you will find them great places for information and community interaction.


Join the Discord here https://discord.gg/hellletloose

Our other social platforms can be found here:

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/HellLetLoose/
Twitter https://twitter.com/hell_let_loose
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/c/HellLetLoose
Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/HellLetLoose/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hellletlooseofficial/
Steam http://steamcommunity.com/groups/HellLetLoose

Well, it's time to hop into our jeep and speed away to wrap up today's Dev Brief.
See you all on the frontline!

Hey Everyone,

The team is still hard at work on all sides, with both update 13 and the Commonwealth update, making some great progress.

In today's brief, we look at keeping your cool on the frontline in U13 as we take a deep dive into the frosty fields of the new snow map Kharkov and Winter Uniforms to suit. We are also pleased to announce some exciting changes to the existing Winter Warfare Free DLC pack. Without further ado, let's dig in.

New Map: Kharkov (Winter)

As mentioned above, we have been working hard on the new winter map Kharkov. This map is polishing up great and we are excited to implement another snow map into the game.

Kharkov combines a hybrid of the armour oriented gameplay of Kursk, featuring wide open fields, hills and Stalingrad’s industrial gameplay; including railroads, bridges and Soviet urbanization complimented with deeper valleys, foliage and marshlands all set in a deep winter environment to make this map a unique experience. We feel players will relish the varieties of combat that this new frontline will offer. Let's take a quick glance at a brief slice of the history of Kharkov in WW2.

The First of four major Battles of Kharkov were fought as part of the final phase of Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the USSR, which had started on 22 June, 1941. During that battle, the German Sixth Army took the important city where the legendary Soviet T-34 tank had been designed and built. Although, it was discovered that most of Kharkov’s industrial plant had been moved before the city fell. Many more bloody battles raged over this area until, finally, after the successful defense at Kursk, the Soviet forces were able to push out Axis troops for the last time.

Set in winter, the Kharkov map should be a welcome addition to the frontline of Hell Let Loose for U13. Let's take a look at some locations on this map.


Lighting fires in the street is a great way for soldiers to stay warm on the frontlines.


Kharkov will definitely have a very cold feeling to it.


Farmhouses can be a great means of cover, dashing between each one during a firefight will get your blood pumping.


With open fields, treelines, fences, housing and even a railway line, there will be plenty of places for troops and vehicles alike to be moving.


Ruined buildings will make great places to hide from the enemy.

Winter Base Uniforms (All Factions)

With the implementation of more snow maps in Hell Let Loose, we feel it is time that players have a chance to get the appropriate winter uniforms. For U13 there will be a new array of base winter uniforms and helmets to complement the addition of more snow filled maps. These new uniforms are a new standard addition to the game, and will appear in your barracks after the update is live. The uniforms will include the following:


US - M1943 Winter Uniform with M1 Winter Helmet


Germany - Heer SchneetarnJacke Winter Smok with M42 Winter Helmet


Soviet - Ameba Winter Uniform with SSH-40 Winter Helmet

Revamped Winter Warfare DLC

With the addition of Kharkov as a winter map, and new base winter uniforms. We are pleased to announce that the team has undertaken a revamp of the existing ‘Winter Warfare’ Free DLC pack. The revamp will see the removal of the two existing helmets and the inclusion of three new helmets. The existing helmets, which were the white M1 and white M42 from the old Winter Warfare pack; will go into the base uniform selection and be available to all players.

The new helmets for the updated Winter Warfare Free DLC bundle will include:


Covered M1 Winter Helmet


M38 Fallschirmjäger Winter Helmet


SSH-40 Covered Winter Helmet

If you already have the Winter Warfare Free DLC pack, these three new helmets will automatically appear in your barracks to use when the ‘new’ Winter Warfare Free DLC bundle goes live.

Likewise, if you do not already have the Winter Warfare Free DLC pack, keep an eye on our socials and the Steam store, for it will be appearing as a limited time seasonal offer.

Silver Vanguard DLC M42 Helmet inclusion update

Since our announcement of the inclusion of the M42 helmet with goggles to the Silver Vanguard (PC) DLC, we have noticed some people having issues obtaining this new addition. If you cannot see the helmet in your barracks and have the Silver Vanguard DLC on PC, you will need to do the following:

• In the Steam Library, Right-Click the game and choose Properties.
  
• Choose DLC at the bottom of the list
  
• Check the box in the Install column next to the M42 with Motorcycle Goggles DLC

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1647960/Hell_Let_Loose__Silver_Vanguard_DLC/

Community Content

Something a little different for the ‘Community Content’ in this week's brief. During his limited free time one of our artists has been able to make a 3d printed model of a HLL asset he created, the M30 Howitzer. The end result looks quite sharp.


In engine render of the 122mm M30 Howitzer


Side view In engine render of the 122mm M30 Howitzer


Rear View of the printed M30 by Fran


Front View of the printed M30 by Fran

War Correspondent, Content Creator and Community HLL Videos
Time for some more community highlights from the below creators. We highly recommend giving them a watch.
If you see a Video you like make sure to post in the Discord #hll-videos channel.

This game chose Realism over Gameplay - TBAG [Epic Gaming]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ED0S2Xm1InI

This game is on a different level - monoespacial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iPFuZrqCow

Hell Let Loose - When you turn the Sniper Class to 100 - Alpine Sniper
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVQgBs2EqrE

Don’t forget that if you haven’t checked out the other Hell Let Loose socials you should do so. Like our discord you will find them great places for information and community interaction.


Join the Discord here https://discord.gg/hellletloose

Our other social platforms can be found here:

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/HellLetLoose/
Twitter https://twitter.com/hell_let_loose
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/c/HellLetLoose
Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/HellLetLoose/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hellletlooseofficial/
Steam http://steamcommunity.com/groups/HellLetLoose

Well, it's time to warm up and wrap up today's Dev Brief. See you all on the frontline!

Hi everyone,

We want to thank the community for your patience as we spent the last couple of months prioritizing & finalizing console content so that it’s inline with the PC. Now this parity work is almost complete, it will make general HLL development much smoother moving forward.

Although this work has taken longer than we’d have liked, it has been a huge technical achievement for the team that enables us to deliver PC & Console updates at the same time in the future - or with minimal time between. It was also critical for us to do this work in order to streamline and best use the team’s time as effectively as possible moving into the years ahead.

After releasing a major update like Falling Dark, we take time to continue internal testing and QA. We wish to assure the community that Update 13 will bring another level of polish and improvement to all areas of the game. This means that U13 will be the last major update for the year. We feel it’ll be sure to create quite the sizzle.

Lastly, we’re thrilled to announce that our aim is to release the Commonwealth Expansion as our first major update of 2023. We will be announcing an updated roadmap to reflect this in the coming weeks. Creating an Expansion with a whole new force, suite of weaponry and vehicles, as well as new maps is a time consuming process and one that we’re keen to get right. We’re excited to share this with you as we continue to work through its creation. We’re very excited to introduce a whole new theater of war and are excited for the new maps this enables us to develop.


WIP Render of the iconic British Bren gun

Update 13: Flames, Frost and More!

We have some very exciting content currently aligned for this next update on-top of general QOL improvements. This includes but is not limited to the following.

• T-70
  
• Winter Map (TBA)
  
• Winter Uniforms
  
• Jeeps
  
• Flame Throwers
  
• RCON Improvements
  
• New Cosmetics

We look forward to sharing more on that front in the coming weeks, as well as initial testing and return of the PTE! For U13. This update will require prolonged testing as we expect technical challenges when it comes to Flamethrowers, Jeeps and more.

We hope that you will join us when this testing begins and look forward to your support and feedback.

Soviet T-70 Light Tank

U13 will also see the introduction of a new vehicle, the Soviet T-70 light tank. Let's take a quick glance at a brief historical summary of the T-70 class light tank in WW2.

With over 8,000 produced, the T-70 became popular during World War 2 as an inexpensive upgrade or improvement upon its predecessor the T-60. Lightly armored and equipped with a 45mm cannon and a 7.62 machine gun, it’ll take the same position as the Stuart and Luchs do on the battlefield at present.

Although not as fast or as armoured as its big brother the T34, the T-70 was a step up from its predecessor (the T-60) and featured heavily in the fighting around Prokhorovka during the battle of Kursk. The T-70 was used mainly as a reconnaissance vehicle, however if driven with skill, it was able to take out bigger rivals. Not able to keep up with its newer and bigger brethren the T-70 would often be found scouting or in defensive duties.


Historical picture of an unusual winterised T-70 painted white

Sadly after suffering heavy losses in the battle of Kursk the T-70 was relegated from the frontlines to provide a more sustainable role in convoy escorts, training and HQ defense, leaving the T-34 and IS-1 to remain more prominent on the frontline fields of battle.

The implementation of the T-70 to HLL is a further iteration of the initial roll out of assets boasting smart materials off the bat. It has been a pleasing result for both looks and performance to be using the smart materials system.


Attacking the trenches of Kursk


Pushing forwards on the frontline


Rolling to the battlefield

We look forward to watching players roll out in the new T-70 Light Tank in U13.

Silver Vanguard DLC Update

We have been aware for some time now that the community has been asking about the M42 Helmet with goggles that appears in the ‘Silver Vanguard’ DLC. This picture was honestly a minor oversight in the artwork used for the Steam Store. The team got together and discussed two options for this, either to update the artwork in the Steam Store to be correct without the helmet or to include the M42 Helmet with Motorcycle Goggles in the existing Silver Vanguard DLC.


‘Silver Vanguard’ Store Art on Steam featuring the M42 Helmet with Goggles.

We are happy to announce that we will be implementing the roll out of the M42 Helmet with Motorcycle Goggles into the Silver Vanguard DLC pack. So all owners both past, present and future of the Silver Vanguard DLC pack will now see they also have the M42 Helmet with Motorcycle Goggles in their Barracks, ready to equip for battle on the frontline.


M42 Helmet with Motorcycle Goggles

Moving Forwards With Developer Briefings

As more and more items and content for update 13 and onwards are reaching near finished status we intend to increase the frequency of the Developer briefings for the remainder of this year. This will allow us to, in a more timely manner, preview to all of you some of the new things coming to HLL. The increase in release of dev briefs and the associated content will commence as of now. We have a lot of information to share over the coming months and look forward to showcasing it in upcoming developer briefings.

Community Update - HLL 18 vs 18 Competitive Tournament

The 18vs18 format was introduced to the Hell Let Loose Community by Abinus & the HLLTC in the Summer of 2020. The format is designed to encourage FPS skills and teamwork by compacting the team and map size. 18vs18 is played on a single strongpoint and the 2x2 around it, with 18 players per side. Each match is 30 minutes in length, but can continue if the central strongpoint is contested. These matches are designed to be fast-paced, action packed insanity - where individual efforts can be the difference between winning and losing.


You can check out past matches here https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-shUPWKE5AsMAD5CcSgm0A/videos

Streaming will be here from October 10: https://www.twitch.tv/hll18vs18 .

More information on this can be found in the HLL Discord in the ‘Event Announcement’ channel.

War Correspondent, Content Creator and Community HLL Videos

Time for some more community highlights from the below creators. We highly recommend giving them a watch. This week we have decided to showcase some of the larger content creators that have featured HLL in their streams recently.

If you see an interesting Community Content Video or make one yourself, make sure to post in the Discord #hll-videos channel.

Only A Miracle Will Save This Team - Hell let Loose - Nano

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pyX1CZrpj8

REALISTIC NIGHT WW2 WARFARE! - Hell Let Loose Update 12 Gameplay - OperatorDrewski
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDLbRMm1OCw

I defended Omaha Beach with a Sniper Rifle…- Jackfrags
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onCxr5vEP_o

Don’t forget that if you haven’t checked out the other Hell Let Loose socials you should do so. Like our discord, you will find them great places for information and community interaction.


Join the Discord here https://discord.gg/hellletloose

Our other social platforms can be found here:

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/HellLetLoose/
Twitter https://twitter.com/hell_let_loose
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/c/HellLetLoose
Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/HellLetLoose/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hellletlooseofficial/
Steam http://steamcommunity.com/groups/HellLetLoose

Well, it's time to wrap up today's Dev Brief. See you all on the frontline!

Hey everyone,

We are pleased to announce that a hotfix for Update 12 ‘Falling Dark’ is now live. Over the next several weeks our focus will turn to continued optimization, bug fixing and ongoing polish.

For a comprehensive list of changes for this hotfix please read the changelog below.

In future Dev Briefs will be announcing what the next content update will bring, along with parity for console players. This will be a huge milestone for the game and the community as a whole. This means that future updates across platforms will be released at the same or similar time, and allow us to work far more efficiently.

We want to thank the entire community for your ongoing support, and extend this to our own team who work very hard to put out these updates and fixes. We are extremely excited for the future of HLL, and we hope you are too.

See you on the frontline! o7



Reduced Precision Strike cost from 500 to 250 munitions

Adjusted volume attenuation of the Stuka Siren

[Fixed] Vehicles can easily get stuck or struggle to drive over and on train tracks across multiple maps
[Fixed] Flare gun does not reveal the enemy players if the shooter is within in its radius
[Fixed] Soviet Mosin Sniper doesn't 1 shot kill above 200m
[Fixed] VOIP channel volumes are reset after the map change
[Fixed] Half-Track deployment text fails to update it’s state correctly
[Fixed] The "Back" button located in Barracks is not functional if the player has the Favorite role selected
[Fixed] The "Welcome to Hell" achievement does not unlock
[Fixed] The "Commend and Conquer!" and "War Hero" achievements are not incremented correctly
[Fixed] The "Iron Cross" and "Medal of Honor" achievements are not incremented correctly

[Fixed] Craters have sharp transition and look not up to standard

[Fixed] Town center strongpoint has a closed building, needs a open building

[Fixed] Hedge Collision is extending in E6

[Fixed] Tanks can get stuck on the train tracks near and on the bridge
[Fixed] Players can not walk in first floor of bridge tower when barbed wires are placed
[Fixed] Cliff missing collision allowing vehicles to hide
[Fixed] Embankment in H4 is floating
[Fixed] Location with Soviet graffiti on walls
[Fixed] Players are able to spawn inside of the bridge tower walls
[Fixed] Garden in C9 has open garden, trapping players inside unable to get out
[Fixed] Road texture is stretched in E2



- Some assets are known to be switching LoDs at shorter distances than intended. In future updates we will be looking to improve these visually

- Steam server browser and direct connect links fail to connect to the server if the game isn’t already running



Don’t forget that if you haven’t checked out the other Hell Let Loose socials you should do so. Like our discord you will find them great places for information and community interaction.


Join the Discord here https://discord.gg/hellletloose

Our other social platforms can be found here:

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/HellLetLoose/
Twitter https://twitter.com/hell_let_loose
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/c/HellLetLoose
Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/HellLetLoose/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hellletlooseofficial/
Steam http://steamcommunity.com/groups/HellLetLoose

Hey everyone,


At last it's here. The team is excited to announce that Update 12 ‘Falling Dark’ is upon us. As we have mentioned in our developer briefings this update brings to all the ‘Low Light’/‘Night’ mood settings for some popular and new maps, Vehicle Updates, New Commander Abilities, Flare Guns and so much more.

We have all been working hard over the last few months to ensure that this update has been well worth the wait. Without further ado let's crunch the info on Update 12 via the full changelog.



Added new US “M4A3 75w” medium tank
Added Machine guns to Half-tracks (M2 Browning, MG42)
Reimplemented the German “Panther” as a heavy tank with updated Smart Materials
Updated Tiger with new camo pattern
Updated Panzer IV with new camo pattern
Updated Luchs with new camo pattern

Added Flare Guns (LP-42, SPSh-42, AN-M8)

Added Flare Gun to Spotter lvl 3 “Scout” loadout
Moved Ammo Crate from Spotter lvl 3 “Scout” to Spotter lvl 1 “Standard Issue” loadout

Added 2 new DLC uniforms for the Commander role
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1656971/Hell_Let_Loose__Upper_Echelon/?curator_clanid=34012997

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1656970/Hell_Let_Loose__Red_Marshall/?curator_clanid=34012997

Added the following new Commander Abilities:

Precision StrikeGER: Stuka Dive BombUS: x2 P-47 BombsSOV: IL-2 Rocket StrafeAmmo Drop

Improved animations for the strafing run Commander Ability
Added separate volume controls for Proximity, Unit and Leadership VOIP channels
Added gore models for the Soviet faction (previously used US models)
Primary Weapons are now displayed on the player’s back while not equipped
Added the ability to interrupt weapon reloads
Fortifications can now be snapped together using the default “LEFT ALT” keybinding
Adjusted MG deployment logic to prevent players from hiding their model inside objects
Updated Personal Stats screen with new stats and an organized layout
Tank crews are now notified when the gunner destroys an OP
Vehicle wrecks can now be destroyed using tank shells, AT-guns, rockets and satchels
Increased AT-Gun deploy timer from 3 to 8 seconds
Reduced AT-Gun damage from 600 to 350
Added the following new Achievements:

Not a bridge too far!MG goes BRRRR!You can run, but you can't hide!I don't need no Nightvision Goggles!Soldier of the MonthCommend and Conquer!War HeroDeputy of DeathDo Svidaniya!I spy, I spy, with my little eye...Cleanup down isle 3Geneva Genocide!There can only be one!One with the shadow...Spot On!Medal of HonorIron CrossHero of the Soviet UnionBreaking the Geneva ConventionIts over two thousand!Humble lifestyleIts like fashion week!Rock, Paper, Tank!And so it begins...Rain HellBeat the DEV (Medic)

Added new Remagen map:

Remagen WarfareRemagen Warfare NightRemagen Offensive GERRemagen Offensive US

Added Night maps:

Foy Warfare NightPurple Heart Lane Warfare NightHurtgen Forest Warfare NightKursk Warfare Warfare Night

Added additional Omaha map variants:

Omaha WarfareOmaha Offensive GER

Reworked HQs on Kursk to provide additional cover for each faction


Improved legibility of Enemy Recon Markings on the Tactical Map


Shortened incoming Artillery whistle SFX
Adjusted bullet crack SFX for the MG42
Adjusted Foy map ambience
Balanced volume of grenade throw SFX
Added sound occlusion to explosion SFX
Balanced end of round music volume
Adjusted flesh impact SFX
Adjusted wood impact SFX
Adjusted smoke grenade SFX
Additional minor sound tweaks and improvements


Updated TPP Blood Hit FX
Added lighting to the following in-game FX for better visuals on night maps:

Muzzle FlashesArtillery cannonsTank cannonsPanzerschreck/Bazooka rockets

Adjusted artillery impact and vehicle explosion FXs


Added ‘Aim Laser’ to indicate where a player is aiming
[Fixed] The prompt displayed when the player is banned via Votekick mentions that the ban is from the administrator


[Fixed] Unusual camera stuttering when vaulting over an object while the server/player has a high ping
[Fixed] Disconnecting and Reconnecting from VoIP while making Microphone check will cause VoIP to permanently stop working.
[Fixed] Soviet Recon Tank doesn't trigger any SFX when entering the vehicle or switching positions.
[Fixed] Panzer IV has incorrect armour collision
[Fixed] The player cannot be heard if they switch very fast between the VOIP channels
[Fixed] Players are unable to hear enemy Half-track SFX
[Fixed] M97 Trench Gun cannot penetrate any materials.
[Fixed] Outpost can be placed next to downed enemy but is instantly destroyed.
[Fixed] Bullet Crack Sound Plays when leaving Mounted Prone with PTRS-41.
[Fixed] Typing Y/N in chat will accept or deny UI requests
[Fixed] Deployable explosives can't be placed in an area around garrisons and airheads.
[Fixed] The player model can clip through certain building roofs by deploying LMG’s.
[Fixed] LMGs camera will lose its input when being deployed in another player
[Fixed] Some Personal Stats are not saved when the player exits and reenters a server
[Fixed] Offensive mode initial Deploy Timer counts down before any players have joined the server
[Fixed] VOIP may not work immediately after creating a unit for 20-30 seconds
[Fixed] Career and Role EXP may not correctly display in change role menu if gained just before a match ends.
[Fixed] Two players can trigger the bandaging animation if the bandage is used at the same time
[Fixed] Players do not get suppressed from bombing run fire when in artillery reload seat
[Fixed] Players do not get suppressed from strafing run fire when in artillery reload seat
[Fixed] Deploying an LMG on a wooden beam of a specific barn causes graphical issue and un-deploys the LMG.
[Fixed] Half-Track spawn icon appears when the engine is on in Locked enemy territory
[Fixed] During idle animation the left hand is misaligned and clips through the weapon while holding any Rifle or Sniper Rifle
[Fixed] The player is unable to deploy or to enter the Change Role menu in certain scenarios after they've been switched to the other team via RCon during the last 3 seconds of deployment
[Fixed] The Anti-Tank gun turret will collide with vehicles, potentially causing collision/physics issues
[Fixed] Missing glass in Opel Blitz asset
[Fixed] Eastern Wood Peewee can be heard in Hürtgen Forest Map
[Fixed] Rebinding W A S or D in Infantry, Driver and Admin tabs will allow two bindings on one key.
[Fixed] Rebinding W A S or D to common and relaunching the title will rebind in Infantry, Driver and Admin Tabs.
[Fixed] Garrisons and Outposts render distances vary based on map
[Fixed] Airhead is destroyed by friendly grenades
[Fixed] The Damaged Engine Fire PFX always face directly toward the player
[Fixed] When a player quickly switches between VOIP channels, the nametag of the player will not show up or will show up for a brief period of time
[Fixed] Gear change animation plays twice in Soviet vehicles
[Fixed] Occasions where nametags appeared in Streamer Mode
[Fixed] Poor network conditions will cause bolt action rifles to not fire when inputting.
[Fixed] FG42 bullets land higher than the crosshair
[Fixed] Soviet Half-Track have no SFX while being repaired at a repair station
[Fixed] The map images on the 'Maps' section of the Field Manual are low resolution
[Fixed] There is a corrupted texture in the viewports of certain tanks
[Fixed] Outside parts of the Panzer IV is present in the viewport at FoV higher than 90
[Fixed] Airheads will deploy faster than the icon indicates
[Fixed] The prompt that appears after a player is kicked appears in German
[Fixed] Steam invites will bring a player into the last server the inviter was in if they're on the Front End


[Fixed] Increased height of certain foxholes to provide improved cover
[Fixed] Multiple instances of floating or misaligned assets
[Fixed] Adjustments to player collision across a number of assets
[Fixed] Adjustments to LoD settings across a number of assets


[Fixed] Adjustments to player collision across a number of assets
[Fixed] Adjustments to LoD settings across a number of assets


[Fixed] Adjustments to player collision across a number of assets
[Fixed] Adjustments to LoD settings across a number of assets


[Fixed] Visual issue with some riverbanks
[Fixed] Multiple instances of floating or misaligned assets
[Fixed] Adjustments to player collision across a number of assets
[Fixed] Adjustments to LoD settings across a number of assets




[Fixed] Adjustments to player collision across a number of assets
[Fixed] Adjustments to LoD settings across a number of assets


[Fixed] Some instances where the player could not deploy their MG on an asset
[Fixed] Multiple instances of floating or misaligned assets
[Fixed] Adjustments to player collision across a number of assets
[Fixed] Adjustments to LoD settings across a number of assets


[Fixed] Multiple instances of floating or misaligned assets
[Fixed] Adjustments to player collision across a number of assets
[Fixed] Adjustments to LoD settings across a number of assets


[Fixed] Multiple instances of floating or misaligned assets
[Fixed] Adjustments to player collision across a number of assets
[Fixed] Adjustments to LoD settings across a number of assets


[Fixed] Adjustments to player collision across a number of assets
[Fixed] Adjustments to LoD settings across a number of assets


[Fixed] Adjustments to player collision across a number of assets
[Fixed] Adjustments to LoD settings across a number of assets



Ammo Drop ability description mentions x5 rearms instead of x12
Specific assets appear to LoD aggressively on some maps (notably Omaha)


Don’t forget that if you haven’t checked out the other Hell Let Loose socials you should do so. Like our discord you will find them great places for information and community interaction.



Join the Discord here https://discord.gg/hellletloose

Our other social platforms can be found here:

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/HellLetLoose/
Twitter https://twitter.com/hell_let_loose
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/c/HellLetLoose
Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/HellLetLoose/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hellletlooseofficial/
Steam http://steamcommunity.com/groups/HellLetLoose

Well, it's time to wrap up today's update info. See you all on the frontline with Update 12!

Hey everyone,

At last, the team is excited to announce that all going well, Update 12 ‘Falling Dark’ will release tomorrow Tuesday July 19th 11am BST. We are all very eager to see the community enjoying the New Maps Remagen, Low light/night variants of popular maps and Omaha Beach with new Modes.

Additional items including new Vehicles (Panther and M4A3 Sherman), Flare Guns and a host of other new content are also crammed in with this update. In our brief today we also will take the time to feature new DLC for U12, VOIP improvements, Changes to how primary weapons are shown on players, Sorting out those pesky vehicle wrecks, improved lighting effects on night maps and more.

If you haven't seen information for the Update 12 items not mentioned in this brief, you can check it out in previous dev briefs here:
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/686810/view/3130570929265222231
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/686810/view/3215016591888341689
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/686810/view/3327611022119902236

For those who may not have seen, alongside the Update 12 release we will also implement some new DLC commander uniforms for all factions:


Upper Echelon - US Summer Service Uniform


Upper Echelon - German Field Blue Heer Officer Uniform


Red Marshal - Soviet M35 Officer Uniform

The commander DLC will comprise of two different packs named “Upper Echelon” and “Red Marshal”. These will soon be available for PC on the Steam Store and they contain the following:

• Upper Echelon: German Field Blue Heer Officer Uniform and US Summer Service Uniform
  
  
• Red Marshal: Soviet M35 Officer Uniform

Note:The Red Marshal pack will be free to download

VOIP has been a mainstay for critical communications in Hell Let Loose from its very beginning. We are constantly looking at ways to improve the player experience for the ingame VOIP mechanics. We are excited to announce in update 12 we have been able to implement a more extensive volume control system.

There are three layers of VOIP channels within HLL consisting of ‘Local’, ‘Unit’ and ‘Command’ chat respectively. In addition to the previous single overall voice volume option of these we have now added a volume slider to each VOIP channel. This will allow players to raise or lower the volume for Local, Unit and Command chat as they see fit.

We believe that the expanded volume control options for VOIP will enrich all player communications and make it a more streamlined method of comms on the battlefields. Improved communications will lead to better teamwork and more enjoyable overall gaming experience.

We continue to work with our VOIP partner VIVOX, and will continue to improve HLL comms as much as possible. We have plans to implement further improvements in Update 13.



To add to the atmosphere on the battlefield we have implemented the animations of a player's primary weapon to now be shown on their back when they switch to an alternate weapon or item.

Function wise players will not notice much of a difference to their gameplay, however for those around them, the look of a weapon slung on a players back will add another dimension to the immersion of HLL. We will consider all feedback and any animation and bug concerns.



We are adding in the ability for players to destroy wrecked vehicles. The destruction of a wreck can be achieved using tank shells, AT-guns, shoulder fired rockets or satchels.

The destruction of player driven vehicle wrecks will have a few effects for players to consider. If a vehicle is destroyed in a choke point area it can now be removed to free up the flow of the battle, rather than waiting on the timed demolition.

Conversely players will need to be aware that the wrecks of player driven vehicles are now not as dependable for ‘Hard cover’ during a firefight due to the ability for them to be removed suddenly. However with cover in mind, the static wrecks placed on the battlefields by default are impervious to this destruction feature. Typically these are notably identified as ‘burning’ wrecks.



We have been very busy working on ways to improve the mood and atmosphere of the low light/night maps rolling out in Update 12. Some of the items we are fine tuning for this process include:

Adding lighting to the following in-game FX for better visuals on night maps (initial implementation has been kept on the subtle side of things):

• Muzzle Flashes
  
• Artillery cannons
  
• Tank cannons
  
• Panzerschreck/Bazooka rockets

Update 12 will also feature a host of new achievements for you all to get your teeth into:
Added the following new Achievements:

• Not a bridge too far!
  
• MG goes BRRRR!
  
• You can run, but you can't hide!
  
• I don't need no Nightvision Goggles!
  
• Soldier of the Month
  
• Commend and Conquer!
  
• War Hero
  
• Deputy of Death
  
• Do Svidaniya!
  
• I spy, I spy, with my little eye...
  
• Cleanup down aisle 3
  
• Geneva Genocide!
  
• There can only be one!
  
• One with the shadow...
  
• Medal Of Honour
  
• Iron Cross
  
• Hero of the Soviet Union
  
• Spot On!
  
• Breaking the Geneva Convention
  
• Its over two thousand!
  
• Humble lifestyle
  
• Its like fashion week!
  
• Rock, Paper, Tank!
  
• And so it begins...
  
• Rain Hell
  
• Beat the DEV (Medic)

As per every update, we want to thank our original Kickstarter backers. Your support was what enabled us to begin this journey almost five years ago. We know that crowdfunded projects are always a huge risk - more often than not failing to materialize at all. We want to thank you for taking a chance on us, and we’re excited to continue moving forwards, fulfilling our mandate.

Time for some more community highlights from the below creators. We highly recommend giving them a watch.
If you see a Video you like make sure to post in the Discord #hll-videos channel.

Hell Let Loose - The Ultimate Assault Guide - SoulSniper


CARNAGE IN STALINGRAD - Hell Let Loose - BreakTheVices


Hell Let Loose - U12 is ALMOST here [PC Only] - Monoespacial


Our other social platforms can be found here:

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/HellLetLoose/
Twitter https://twitter.com/hell_let_loose
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/c/HellLetLoose
Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/HellLetLoose/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hellletlooseofficial/
Steam http://steamcommunity.com/groups/HellLetLoose

Well, it's time to wrap up today's Dev Brief. See you all on the frontline with Update 12!

Hey everyone,

Welcome to yet another Developer Briefing. Today we’re excited to showcase an abundance of new content coming in Update 12, featuring new Commander Abilities, additional Omaha Beach map variants (with reworked areas to suit their respective gamemodes) and the new US “Sherman M4A3 75w” medium tank along with the return of the beloved German “Panther” medium tank.

Without further ado, let’s dig right in!


This first feature has been one of the more difficult surprises to keep, and after seeing the countless requests across the Reddit, Steam forums and Discord channels over the past few weeks, we’re very excited to finally be pulling the curtains. Scheduled for implementation in Update 12 is the addition of 2 new Commander Abilities - the ‘Ammo Drop’ and ‘Precision Strike’, featuring the infamous Ju-87 ‘Stuka’!

As always, please note that the following content is in a state of ‘work in progress’ and has yet to receive final adjustments and polish.


‘Precision Strike’ calls upon the support of deadly fighter plane(s) to execute a devastating single blow to a specific target defined by the Commander. This new ability will prove as an effective solution to tightly knit infantry positions, stationary vehicles unaware of their senses or exposed garrisons who’s position can be pinpointed on a map.

Though with great power comes even greater responsibility, as a high cost and cooldown rate means that such a request must be radioed in with full confidence, as while the effective radius of the precision strike is small, its power is absolute.

Each faction has their own unique twist on the ability, sporting the very planes used historically to deliver such devastating blows on the battlefield.


German Ju-87 ‘Stuka’


US P47 ‘Thunderbolt’


Soviet Ilyushin IL-2

The second commander ability included in Update 12 is the ‘Ammo Drop’. Similar to the existing ‘Supply Drop’, the ‘Ammo Drop’ parachutes in an emergency stock of assorted medical, firearms and explosive ammunition for soldiers on the ground. The ammo crate from this ability is unique in the sense that rearming from one will restock all types of ammo carried by a soldier and will initially allow soldiers to rearm a total of 12 times (ie. 12 soldiers each rearming once)



The ‘Ammo Drop’ will be especially handy if you run out of rifle ammunition and grenades or even bandages as they’ll all be replaced during the one rearming cycle. The rearming of a soldier can only be done once per life until the 12 re-arm slots in the crate have been exhausted or the crate itself is destroyed.

Commanders who like to plan ahead should find this new ability particularly useful when preparing for an upcoming firefight, as any advantage can turn the tide of battle.




Along with new Commander Abilities comes a new addition to the vehicle lineup for the US forces - the Sherman ‘M4A3 75w’.

Similar to when the Panzer IV was introduced, this new addition will replace the existing Sherman M4A1. Those of you who have been with us over the years will know that the Sherman M4A1 was one of the very first vehicles added to the game, and we feel that over the course of time the asset has begun to show it's age.

The name “Sherman” comes from the British tradition of naming its American produced tanks after American Civil War Generals. Named after General William Tecumseh Sherman, the name quickly caught on and led to the adopted practice of the US Army naming all its tanks after Generals.

Some of the first M4A3 (75w)s were shipped to Europe in the weeks and months following the Normandy Invasion on June 6, 1944. It was the goal of US Army to place the Ford engined Shermans with their updated Second Generation features into the hands of combat troops as quickly as possible.

The M4 Sherman was uncomplicated, reliable, and mechanically well constructed. Working in tandem with well-coordinated Allied infantry, artillery, and air forces, the plentiful and trusty Shermans were able to vanquish most German armoured formations simply by ganging up on them in overwhelming numbers when all else failed. Often considered one of the great additions to allied forces during the entirety of WW2. The trusty Sherman holds a place in any WW2 gamer or history buffs heart.


Sherman “M4A3 75w”



As many of you who have been following our previous Developer Briefings know, it has been our goal to continuously raise the bar when it comes to the visual fidelity of both past and future content in Hell Let Loose and how Smart Materials play a large role in those efforts.

In addition to the new US Sherman M4A3, players will have the pleasure of seeing the reintroduction of the German Panther tank in its up classed ‘Heavy’ configuration, showcasing its fresh coat of Smart Materials alongside the Tiger I.

For anyone left wondering what a ‘Smart Material’ is, we highly recommend reading back on one of our past Briefs - Developer Briefing 130 where we explain their benefits in detail, but to give a quick TL;DR, Smart Materials provide a:

• Higher texture fidelity
  
• Lower cost on performance
  
• Versatile workflow allowing for new features unachievable using previous methods

https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/686810/view/3058487332660955130


German “Panther ausf.G” heavy tank




German “Tiger I” heavy tank



As we move forward with a wider implementation of smart materials in later updates we intend to also apply them to other items, allowing us the ability to do new things such as adding variety to models, giving a more realistic and authentic feel to the game. All new content moving forward will be using Smart Materials as a new baseline standard in model texturing.




Players who are seasoned to the brutality of storming the famous Omaha Beach landings will be pleased to see that amongst the additional maps of Update 12, two new modes have been added, now rounding out the map to include all available gamemodes.

The Landing craft pictured below allow players to spawn and mount up from within, providing additional cover over the existing boats used in the Offensive US gamemode. We are very excited to see what players think of the new beachfront and how it plays during the new Warfare and German Offensive gamemode.








For anyone interested in getting an early hands-on with new content such as the Stuka, we are excited to announce that the 2nd PTE for Update 12 will commence on Thursday June 9th at 2pm BST.

Unfortunately due to some server maintenance being performed by a GSP at conflicting times, this session will be starting roughly 3 hours later than the usual 11am BST. To make up for this we will be looking to run an extended PTE during the next session before the release of the update.



After the influx of player feedback we received during the 1st PTE, we look forward to your thoughts on what’s new this time round. For those who require a refresher on what to expect, check out the list below which highlights many of the new features coming in Update 12 that will be available to test during these sessions.

• New Weapon - Flare Guns
  
• New Commander Abilities - Precision Strike and Ammo Drop
  
• New Vehicle - US "M4A3 75w" Medium Tank
  
• Reintroduced - German Panther Tank
  
• New Camo - German Tiger Tank
  
• Half-track MGs
  
• New Map - Remagen Map
  
• Night Maps (Foy, Purple Heart Lane, Hurtgen Forest, Kursk)
  
• Improvements to existing maps (Kursk, Omaha Beach)
  
• New FX (Blood hits, Artillery explosion and more)
  
• Additional improvements (Reload Interrupts, Fortification Snapping, Smoother Vaulting, MG Deployment and more)

A detailed list of changes will be available in the Discord PTE channel once servers are live.

How To Join The PTE
If this is your first time wanting to participate in a PTE you’ll need to head over to the Discord where you can find information on how to join and get notifications on when a testing period is live. A full changelog can be viewed in the HLL official discord in the #pte-Info channel on the day.

As always we greatly appreciate all who participate, whether it’s to provide valuable feedback and bug reports, or simply help out with the numbers to test server loads and other items. We’ll also be jumping into battle amongst the ranks on the day so if you have the time or are just curious, we would love to hear from you!


Time for some more community highlights from the below creators. We highly recommend giving them a watch.
If you see a Video you like make sure to post in the Discord #hll-videos channel.

Hell Let Loose - A Weapon SO Good I ran OUT of Ammo - Alpine Sniper
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b25EIDU6ACw

This game has the most INTENSE street to street fighting - IronHeart Gaming
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jv-YljcpNM4

Hell Let Loose - Tanks Hold The High Ground On Kursk To Win - The Fresh Baked Goods
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmHcasKAg6s

Don’t forget that if you haven’t checked out the other Hell Let Loose socials you should do so. Like our discord you will find them great places for information and community interaction.


Join the Discord here https://discord.gg/hellletloose

Our other social platforms can be found here:

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/HellLetLoose/
Twitter https://twitter.com/hell_let_loose
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/c/HellLetLoose
Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/HellLetLoose/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hellletlooseofficial/
Steam http://steamcommunity.com/groups/HellLetLoose

That ‘maps’ up today's dev brief, we hope you all enjoyed it. See you all on the frontlines soon!