We’re sorry, everyone.

What we’d hoped would be an exciting and immersive trailer for our next update - Devotion to Duty - has unfortunately fallen short of expectations. We understand that you were eagerly awaiting the trailer, and we deeply apologize for the disappointment, frustration, and sense of let-down felt among the community.

Hell Let Loose has always aimed to provide an authentic and immersive experience, and the latest updates haven’t reflected this as well as they should have. We hear and value your feedback and are dedicated to actioning it across future updates.

Team17 and Cover 6 Studios’ vision is to remain true to the game's origins, retaining the core strategic squad-based shooter Hell Let Loose is known for, while inviting more like-minded players, so everyone can enjoy the game.

Like Hell Let Loose, communication is the key to success, something we are continuing to work to improve. With an initial focus on improving the Hell Let Loose experience, we have been slower than we had hoped in addressing the core gameplay and meta, with our latest updates having fallen short of expectations. Although such changes won’t happen overnight, our commitment remains unwavering.

We want to improve on each update we deliver and are learning from and embracing your experiences and feedback. We will take steps to address this in future updates and are revisiting the ways in which we can actively work with you, with a renewed focus on delivering the best possible Hell Let Loose experience.

In our next Dev Brief, landing on Friday the 16th of June, we’ll be outlining the initial fixes for the patch releasing on the 22nd of June. In subsequent dev briefs, we’ll deliver an overview of when fixes for other known issues come online, while determining how we further improve the quality of life of Hell Let Loose, keeping you up to date with any progress and changes.

Thank you for all of your heartfelt feedback, passion, and continued support.

We’ll see you all on the frontline.

Hey everyone,

It’s been a little over a week since Update 14 was released and we’ve been busy digesting the feedback on your experiences across all of the various channels. We’re grateful to see so many of you enjoying the evolving gameplay, however, we understand the recent update may have presented some challenges and frustrations for some players. We appreciate the constructive feedback and bug reporting and are dedicating resources to releasing a fix for many of the issues, which is planned for June 22nd. A full list of the fixes will be shared after our investigation period and closer to the release.

The recent update has invigorated conversation in all channels, and we love to see the passion players display for Hell Let Loose. We value your feedback and want to hear from you, but more importantly, we’ve always admired how thoughtful and constructive this community is compared to others in the space.

Game development can be complicated at times, and adding features or updating elements requires careful balancing. We have dedicated departments focusing on different disciplines, working together to build the best experience possible. We are able to work simultaneously across the various aspects of the game, from code and design to animation and marketing, however, balancing new features and changes takes time and precision.

It’s understandable that locomotion or animation changes can have a polarizing effect on players, but we ask the community to keep this passion constructive. Focusing our energy on making sure a soldier can’t outrun a tank in 4th gear, or another can’t dolphin-dive across the map giving them an unfair advantage, makes the experience better for everyone (although, we have found the memes to be quite funny).

As a studio, we are building new partnerships with history and weapons experts whose knowledge will undoubtedly make this game better and more true to the set and setting. Hell Let Loose is special because of its core gameplay mechanics and we have no intention of changing that or making this look like any other FPS title on the market. Change is inevitable, but not to the point where it affects the core principles of Hell Let Loose - a strategic, communicative, cooperative, and immersive WWII experience.

As we travel together on this journey, remember to communicate well with one another. We are all compatriots on the battlefield, and while we might have different preferences, we all share the same love for Hell Let Loose!


While it is never our intention to release updates with issues, we’re not going to get this right all the time. With Update 14 being our second update in as many months, we are only just beginning to get into a rhythm with our releases.

Thank you to everyone who has reported new bugs - we are now aiming to investigate many of the known issues in order to provide fixes in a patch to be released later this month.

Being Investigated:

Holding Tab and Movement
A bug is currently preventing players from moving when holding tab to view the scoreboard. We believe this to be the result of a fix submitted with U14 for preventing a particular exploit.

Holding F Actions
In relation to the above bug, players are currently unable to carry out actions using the ‘F’ key while the map is open.

XP Rewarding
Incorrect XP amounts are being rewarded at the end of a game, this is a bug that the team are looking into!

Server Filter Bug
When typing a server name in the Server Filter box on PC, a bug is causing the box to deselect after each character, making it difficult to type out and search for a server name.

Looping Breathing Audio
While sprinting, some players may hear the breathing audio overlapping itself.

British Weaponry Calibration
We have received reports of some British weapons feeling incorrectly zeroed.

Invisible Barrier on Driel
Invisible collision under the bridge on Driel has been reported, which is incorrectly
preventing players from shooting, or driving vehicles through the space.

Inverted Controls
A bug is affecting a number of gunner scopes, causing the vertical movement controls to
be inverted.

Increased Weapon Sway
We’ve seen reports of some British weapons being affected by excessive weapon sway,
which is making it difficult for players to track enemies within their sights.

Inconsistent Hangar Collision
When attempting to place an airhead on any hangar of the El Alamein map, the
asset will clip through the roof and will be dropped on the hangar's floor.
The issue is not occurring for Bombing Run, Supply Drop, Ammo Drop, Strafing Run,
and Precision Strike.

Dive to Prone Exploit
Players are able to use the dive to prone mechanic in quick succession in order to cover ground faster and avoid conflict.

Incorrect Amount of Votes to Kick
On Console, the new vote to kick feature is currently requesting 29 votes, rather than 20,
in order to successfully kick a player


Other Issues:

Panther Misspelled on XP Screen
This typo snuck through as ‘Pather’ and is present on the XP screen.

Weapon Naming
We are aware of incorrect weapon naming being used and will be looking into this.

Incorrect Map Loading Screen Dates
The battle dates present on the loading screens for Driel and El Alamein are switched.


We’ve heard your requests and are pleased to announce that the Summer Warfare DLC will be available across all platform storefronts this summer!

Back by popular demand and for the first time for Console players, this free DLC will include the US M1943 Combat Uniform and will be available for a limited time for all roles (except Armor and Commander) at level Role Level 7.




We have really enjoyed checking out your screenshots, videos, and artwork around the latest update, here are some of our favorites!


“What are you looking at?” By MoscaTnT.

Returning with their 98th Hell Let Loose cartoon, MoscaTnT has created this fantastic illustration of a soldier having a very friendly conversation with a camel in El Alamein!

If you like it as much as we do, buy MoscaTnT a coffee at https://ko-fi.com/moscatnt and check out the full Hell Let Loose cartoon compilation by clicking here.


A heavenly advantage point, El Alamein, by [fll.fi] dea.


British Soldiers making their preparations, by [233C] NaSTaR.


A sky on fire, Driel, by McPaper.


The Fresh Baked Goods demonstrates exactly how to use the new British Recon Tank in Update 14:
https://youtu.be/JUsoKl5k2EI

If you’re wondering what it’s like to pick up the Sniper role on El Alamein, here’s SoulSniper and Scotty to show you how it’s done:
https://youtu.be/UwtdlJi_E-k

Right place, right time! Velma_IRL gets in target practice on Driel:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/CJ5ME249tQI




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


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


It doesn’t stop with Update 14, so make sure to head over to PC Gamer on Twitch on Sunday 11th of June, where you’ll be able to watch the reveal trailer for Update 15. See you all on the frontline!

Hey everyone,

We’re pleased to announce that Update 14 is now live! Take to the battlefield with two brand new maps, deploy in as the British Forces with new weapons and vehicles, and try out the new non-verbal communication tools and updates to locomotion.

For a breakdown of the new features, plus quality of life improvements and bug fixing, please see the changelog below.




New Faction

• Great Britain

New Great Britain Uniforms

• Rubberized Macintosh Raincoat
  
• P-37 Battledress

New Cosmetics

Free DLC - Jericho Cap

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2401900

Paid DLC - Calvary Coat

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2401901

New Weapons

• Lanchester MK1
  
• Sten Gun
  
• Bren MK2
  
• Lee-Enfield Pattern 1914
  
• Lewis Gun
  
• PIAT
  
• Rifle No.4 MK1
  
• Rifle No.5 MK1
  
• Webley MK VI
  
• Fairbairn Sykes Knife
  
• AP MK2
  
• AT MKV
  
• Boys Rifle
  
• Flamethrower Life Buoy
  
• Mills Bomb No.36
  
• No.77 Smoke Grenade
  
• No.2 MK5

Artillery

• 6 Pounder
  
• 25 Pounder

New Vehicles

• Sherman Firefly
  
• Cromwell
  
• Tetrarch
  
• Daimler
  
• Bedford Supply Truck
  
• Bedford Transport Truck

New Maps

• Driel - Driel offers intense combat where players will need to apply a tactical approach to securing territory and traversing the small villages and farmland.
  
• El Alamein - With structures few and far between, players will need to work together to cover their six.

New Achievements

• Not The End - Play 50 Matches on El Alamein
  
• Cross the Nederrijn - Play 50 matches on Driel

HUD/UI

• [Fixed] Some players 500m away could disappear from the tactical map
  
• [Fixed] Smoke grenade FX popping in and out rapidly
  
• Reworked Text Based Tutorials - updated in the Field Manual
  
• V0.1 Video Tutorials - short gif-style videos to support Field Manual text
  
• Vote to Kick Added for Console - allowing players to now vote to kick other players for Abuse, Cheating, or Team Killing
  
• Improvements to the XP Screen - a new breakdown of how XP is awarded will help players better understand how to alter their play style to maximize the XP they earn
  
• Point-and-Ping - Developing on the existing ping feature, allowing players to highlight the location of ammo, explosive ammo, and supply boxes to other players in their platoon
  
• Non-Verbal Communication Tool - Radial Wheel - Implemented to help support players who may not have access to a microphone or are able to use one

While this new tool is not designed to be used by Squad Leaders or Commanders, it does offer other players a new way to supplement communication - categorizing the four most essential comms:

• Requests
  
• Responses
  
• Information
  
• Actions

Optimization

• Performance improvements to a range of maps
  
• Further HLOD fixes to address transition issues
  
• Pass over meshes to remove excessive triangle counts, additional UV sets, reverse buffer index and build adjacency enabled

Effects & Lighting

• Increased exposure in Barracks

Audio

• [Fixed] M1 Garand Reload Audio
  
• Aim Down Sights foley SFX added for all weapons
  
• Water surface SFX added for shallow and very deep water

Animation/Locomotion Improvements

• Crouch Sprint Speed Increased 5%: 393.75 float
  
• Standing Sprint Speed Increased 15%: 517.5 float
  
• Introduced Dive to prone
  
• Introduced Step height improvements
  
• Introduced Run & Sprint updates
  
• [Fixed] Fully reloading specific rifles causing the animation to loop
  
• [Fixed] Mosin Nagant 91/30 bolt resets during partial reload
  
• [Fixed] During any reload Karabiner 98k rifle bolt briefly resets
  
• [Fixed] During full reload Karabiner 98k rifle bolt becomes desynced with hands
  
• [Fixed] Karabiner 98k magazine misaligned from hand during full reload
  
• [Fixed] Players T-Posing after using melee immediately after bracing a Machine Gun
  
• [Fixed] [TPP] Players T-Posing after using melee when equipped with the Flamethrower
  
• [Fixed] Weapons with multiple animation issues when Crouch Sprinting
  
• [Fixed] [TPP] No leaning animation observed when the FG42 or FG42 x4 is used
  
• [Fixed] [TPP] No leaning animation observed when Russian Revive is used

VoIP

• Fixed an issue where if a user got disconnected from a VoIP session, there was a high probability that they would fail to reconnect. This should resolve a large number of issues whereby a player loses voice chat functionality

Map Rotation

• Improved map randomization to ensure even distribution of different game modes for both PC and console
  
• Map rotation will be limited on console and official PC servers for the first week after Update 14 to make the new maps more accessible

Limited Map Rotation Includes:

• El Alamein Offensive (GB)
  
• Sainte-Mère-Église Warfare
  
• Omaha Beach Offensive (US)
  
• Driel Warfare
  
• Hürtgen Forest Offensive (GER)
  
• Carentan Warfare
  
• El Alamein Warfare
  
• Kursk Offensive (SOV)
  
• Utah Beach Offensive (GER)
  
• St Marie Du Mont Warfare
  
• Driel Offensive (GB)
  
• Foy Warfare Night
  
• Hill 400 Warfare
  
• Kharkov Offensive (SOV)
  
• El Alamein Offensive (GER)
  
• Hürtgen Forest Warfare
  
• Omaha Beach Warfare
  
• Carentan Offensive (US)
  
• Driel Offensive (GER)
  
• Sainte-Mère-Église Warfare

Match Analytics (Backend)

• Servers will now log each match with information about what map and mode it is, along with a list of players that started the match

Server Administration
New Commands:

• List Current Map Sequence
  
• Query Map Shuffle
  
• Toggle Map Shuffle

Vehicle Bug Fixes

• [Fixed] Jeep wheels with incorrect damage reduction value

General Bug Fixing

• [Fixed] Players auto-running by jumping during the start of the Sprint to prone function
  
• [Fixed] Dismantling speed for constructible objects able to be artificially increased
  
• [Fixed] Battle Scarred DLC Uniforms not present for Recon classes

Carentan

[Fixed] Noticeable LOD changes at a short viewing distance in multiple locations
[Fixed] Station building asset with LOD distance issues
[Fixed] Wooden lamppost with metal SFX and PFX when shot at, and no bullet penetration
[Fixed] [E6] Bench clipping sandbags
[Fixed] [F3] Metal Barrels with sand SFX and PFX
[Fixed] [F4] Pipe with noticeable LOD transition at a short viewing distance
[Fixed] [F6] Tree with unusual texture movement
[Fixed] [F7] Wooden boxes missing collision
[Fixed] [H5 & H6] Railway track with visible LOD changes
[Fixed] [I8] Misaligned riverbank terrain
[Fixed] [J6] Misaligned mudbank present above stone wall
[Fixed] [J6] Misaligned stone wall


Foy

[Fixed] Burning house column causing damage to players when stood underneath
[Fixed] Trench with LOD issues
[Fixed] Barbed wire fence with LOD issues throughout the map
[Fixed] Canvas-covered barrel and tires with LOD issues at 10m
[Fixed] Dirt piles with LOD issues in multiple sectors
[Fixed] Fallen tree clipping through a standing tree
[Fixed] Log pile assets with incorrect penetration value
[Fixed] Multiple dirt assets with LOD issues
[Fixed] Multiple log assets with LOD issues
[Fixed] Multiple log assets missing bullet or player collision
[Fixed] Multiple misaligned fences around map
[Fixed] Multiple sandbag assets with LOD issues
[Fixed] Noticeable LOD change on Stone Fence asset
[Fixed] Player able to climb several trees while exhibiting an odd animation from another observer's view
[Fixed] Red Barn LOD distance issue present throughout map
[Fixed] Sandbags clipping through wooden wall of trenches
[Fixed] Silo concrete bases with an overly large collision box
[Fixed] Snow-covered roofs of houses with LOD transition issues
[Fixed] Snow-covered trees with LOD issues at 35m
[Fixed] Snow clipping through ammo crate
[Fixed] Trench sandbags with LOD transition issues
[Fixed] There is a barn asset with LoD transition issues
[Fixed] Leafy branch asset with LOD transition issues
[Fixed] Wooden branch missing bullet/player collision present throughout map
[Fixed] Z-fighting present on wooden pallets throughout map
[Fixed] [C10] Tree clipping through a wooden fence
[Fixed] [C10] Misaligned terrain
[Fixed] [C6] Misaligned sandbag
[Fixed] [C6] LOD issue present on multiple sandbags at about 11m
[Fixed] [D1] Wood fence clipping through the side of the house
[Fixed] [D3] Building with multiple clipping issues
[Fixed] [D3] Tree clipping through a covered pallet stack
[Fixed] [D3] Misaligned trench mud border
[Fixed] [D3] Wood fence clipping through multiple assets
[Fixed] [D6] Fence in misalignment with the environment
[Fixed] [D7] Pile of shells witht LOD transition issues when going between distances of ~57-60m
[Fixed] [D8] Tree clipping through a boulder
[Fixed] [D8] Misaligned mud terrain
[Fixed] [E3] Milk barrel and wooden pallet clipping with a pile rubble
[Fixed] [E4] LOD issue observed on the searchlight asset
[Fixed] [E4] Shutters on a building present poor LOD transitions
[Fixed] [E7] Brick pile with LOD issues when going between the distance of 30-35m~
[Fixed] [F1] Tree clipping into house
[Fixed] [F1] Misaligned mudbank
[Fixed] [F1] Tree clipping through a covered box
[Fixed] [F1] Misaligned fallen tree
[Fixed] [F2] Stone wall misaligned with the terrain
[Fixed] [F8] Stone pile presenting LOD issues
[Fixed] [F9] Misaligned tree trunk
[Fixed] [F9] Trees clipping through other tree models
[Fixed] [G2] Tree clipping through stone fence
[Fixed] [G2] Trench with multiple misalignment issues
[Fixed] [G2] Terrain misaligned with the dirt border of a trench
[Fixed] [G7] Tree clipping a stone fence
[Fixed]

Hey everyone,

Today’s brief is another big one, diving further into some of the additional improvements coming with Update 14. We’ll be sharing a final changelog with everyone on the 25th of May, where you’ll be able to find a complete list of changes and bug fixes!


Offering unique gameplay through player-driven experiences, Hell Let Loose is often defined as a hardcore WWII first-person shooter, with a steeper learning curve and a strong emphasis on communication. Platoons are only successful when knowledge is shared and comms are open, and with Update 14, we have begun to facilitate better onboarding for both new and existing players alike.


In our roadmap reveal, we announced that non-verbal communication tools would be implemented to help support players who may not have access to a microphone or are able to use one.

Radial Menu

While this new tool is not designed to be used by Squad Leaders or Commanders, it does offer other players a new way to supplement communication - a radial wheel that categorizes the four most essential comms:

• Requests
  
• Responses
  
• Information
  
• Actions

Designed to support gameplay, these simplified communications aim to help players make quick calls on the battlefield. On PC, you’ll be able to hold the scroll wheel down in order to bring up the radial menu which will allow players to select an option. These responses are then seen only by the members of that player’s squad. Similarly, console players will be able to use the left d-pad to bring up the menu.



With an option selected, the corresponding text will appear in the text chat and the relevant marker will appear above your character’s head, allowing members of the same unit to see who has made the request. For Actions, markers will be placed wherever the player is pointing, other than Defending, which is placed at the player’s current location.

We hope that these non-verbal communications will allow players to quickly and efficiently deliver information when voice comms are not available.

Point-and-Ping

Update 14 will also be further developing the existing ping feature by introducing a new point-and-ping system, where players will be able to highlight the location of ammo, explosive ammo, and supply boxes to other players in their platoon.

To use this new system, players must be within 5m of the item, using either the middle mouse button or the left d-pad on a controller, for a marker to appear above the item, while also calling it out in the text chat.



With these extended non-verbal communication tools, we hope players will be able to fully enjoy the Hell Let Loose experience and boost the communication of all players.


Update 14 will also see an initial improvement of the XP screen by now providing a breakdown of your awarded XP. With this feedback, players will be able to better understand how to alter their play style to maximize the XP they’re awarded.

Console players will soon be able to Vote to Kick those who are purposefully disrupting gameplay. Arriving with Update 14, functionality for a Vote to Kick system is being implemented, mirroring the one available on PC, where twenty votes are required to successfully kick a player.

From the lobby menu, players will be able to select one of the following options to start the vote:

• Abuse
  
• Cheating
  
• Team Killing

With each update, we’re continuing to improve gameplay mechanics, including player locomotion; creating realistic movement that more accurately reflects a soldier’s capability in the field.

Dive to Prone
Highly anticipated, U14 will see dive to prone finally implemented - allowing sprinting players to hold the prone button to seamlessly move into prone and avoid conflict or discovery.


Dive to prone in the third-person perspective.


Dive to prone in the first-person perspective.

Step Height Improvements
These improvements have now introduced individual step heights for each position of Standing, Crouching, and Prone. Crouch step height has been decreased while slightly increasing the Standing step height, allowing players to traverse through maps more smoothly while remaining realistic.

Run & Sprint Updates
Sprinting and running in both Crouch and Standing have been adjusted to feel more natural and realistic.

Improvements to the Rifle Animation Set
New jog animations, as well as pose animations for the Rifle movement set, have been implemented, along with new aim poses, creating more natural movement and poses.
Alongside this, improvements to the base idles and transitions for Rifles have been implemented.


The existing Field Manual has been updated for U14 so that it will now reflect the new non-verbal communication wheel, as well as include a first iteration of video tutorials - short gif-style videos that help to illustrate certain in-game actions.



We have also added further details for the following:

• Dive to Prone
  
• Defensive Building
  
• Engine Damage

While we continue to work on plans for our new tutorial system coming in a future update, we hope that the initial expansion of the Field Manual will help players locate the correct information to support them on the frontline.


A game the size of Hell Let Loose will always be difficult to fully test at scale, with some bugs only occurring when several key factors align - including the implementation of new features introducing bugs not present during QA or regular testing.

Update 14 will be evolving on the initial implementation of the game analytics introduced with U13.5, allowing us to better identify issues that players run into, effectively design new features, and support the fixing of the harder-to-reproduce bugs. With a much quicker release schedule planned, and more internal resources for testing, including the game analytics, we will no longer be relying on public testing ahead of new updates in the current PTE format.

We’re reviewing new processes to support early access for our partners, moderators, and creators. The new studio has recently brought on a dedicated resource to help support early access for future updates and we’ll be sharing more on this in the coming months.


Available with Update 14, players can download the Jericho Cap – a new version of the Budyonovka hat – a pinnacle of the Communist uniforms during the Russian Civil War. When the temperature drops, the flaps come down to shield the crews’ ears and neck from the harshest weather.

This free DLC is available to the Soviet Commander, Infantry, Armor, and Recon units.

Worn at the beginning of WWII during the bleak winter weather, the Jericho Cap worked to keep the Soviet soldiers warm so they could continue the fight.


Alongside the free DLC, players can also keep their soldiers warm with the Cavalry Coat DLC – worn by the Soviet tank crews throughout the war. Available for the Soviet Tank Commander and Crewman.


Stained by the grease and grime from the heavy machinery, its well-insulated mix of suede and sheep’s wool protected the crew from the cold.


Battling through the most severe weather, the new Soviet coat reminds the tanker of the relentless winter and the measures taken to survive.

Hey everyone, Wombat here! I wanted to share a few updates on just some of the bugs currently being investigated, as well as catch up on the results of the map refresh poll.

Loadout & Grenade Bugs
I have been continuing to share your experiences with these persistent bugs, and while they are still incredibly difficult to reproduce, the team are keen to resolve them with future development. Both require further testing and verification to help pinpoint the cause.

Reload Animation Bug
The reload animation bug has now been successfully fixed for U14!

Server Performance
Update 14 will also be bringing further performance improvements to a range of maps, with more HLOD fixes to address transition issues, as well as a pass over meshes to remove excessive triangle counts and additional UV sets.

A Map to Refresh
Thank you to everyone who voted in the map refresh poll! While it started out close, Purple Heart Lane took the win by securing 50% of all votes. So, what happens now? We’ll be taking a look at the feedback on the post to see which improvement requests we can begin to plan for, and will share further details in a future developer brief. If you haven’t yet shared your ideas, make sure to leave a comment here.

Players Crashing on Joining T17 Friend
The team have attempted to reproduce this console-specific bug, and have so far been unsuccessful. To help us investigate it further, please continue to report this issue either using this form, or in the Discord and provide as much information as possible, including:

• Time of Crash (include your timezone)
  
• The platform you were using
  
• The number of friends in your T17 friend list
  
• Username / Gamertag ID

Battle Scarred DLC Now Available for Spotter & Sniper
Update 14 will now show the Battle Scarred DLC as available for the Spotter and Sniper roles!

Weapon Reload Audio
The team are currently working on fixes for a range of weapons missing audio on console and aim to deploy these with Update 15. The M1 Garand reload audio has been fixed for Update 14.

Barracks Lighting
Based on feedback from Update 13.5, the team have now increased the exposure of the Barracks, brightening the screen. Players will be able to see this change with Update 14.

Tank Shell Penetration
This issue is continuing to be looked at as part of a wider investigation into reported issues of inconsistent hit registration.

Floating Pistols
Further amendments are required before the team are able to release a fix for some instances of pistols floating on menu screens.

Flamethrower Clipping Radio
The team will be submitting a fix in U14 for a bug where German Support players wearing the Battle Scarred DLC would see the Flammenwerfer loadout clip a radio box.



As a studio, we’ve been so thrilled to see your excitement and anticipation for the future of Hell Let Loose. Going forward we’ll continue to grow and optimize the game and further develop the Hell Let Loose identity as the title takes on an incredible next chapter.

Starting today, the next evolution of the Hell Let Loose logo will be going live across all of our channels. The Hell Let Loose trident has remained a community symbol since the start, and this next iteration will allow you, the community, to continue to express your own identities alongside it. We’ll be sharing details on how you can access the logos and our brand guidelines, in a future announcement.


New Horizontal Hell Let Loose Logo Lockup.

New Hell Let Loose Icon Logo.


We would also like to let everyone know of an upcoming change in our pricing structure. As we continue to bring new content and improvements to the well-loved title, the base price of Hell Let Loose will be increasing to reflect the new updates and future content planned.

In your respective currency, you can expect to see Hell Let Loose increase by 5 units, shortly after Update 14 releases, so now is the perfect time to enlist your friends and prepare them to take on all the new battles arriving soon!

Our journey together has only just begun, and as these updates and changes take effect, we’re glad to have you by our side.

We look forward to joining you all on the frontline next week!



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

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Twitter https://twitter.com/hell_let_loose

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Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/HellLetLoose/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hellletlooseofficial/

Steam http://steamcommunity.com/groups/HellLetLoose

Hey everyone,

Thank you for the response to our last dev brief - we’ve been exceptionally grateful and excited to be on the journey together! This week we’re pleased to announce Update 14 & The British forces are targeted for deployment on May 25th.

This will be another major update, bringing with it two brand new maps, the start of the British forces, along with new weapons & vehicles, new free & paid DLC items, our first iteration of video tutorials, and non-verbal communication tools - as well as general bug fixing.

Today, we’ll be taking a look at how the British forces are shaping up, along with the weapons and vehicles you can expect to see at the end of the month.

New Maps

Last time we revealed a North African campaign, El Alamein, would be available for players to jump into and experience a whole new biome, with open landscapes and plenty of verticality. In this dev brief, we’ll be taking a closer look at Driel, our second map based in Holland.

Driel
Taking inspiration from the events of Operation Market Garden, Driel offers intense combat where players will need to apply a tactical approach to securing territory and traversing the small villages and farmland.

Cross over using the bridge, or risk becoming an easy target by wading through the river.

Driel, featuring a sun-lit sky, rail bridge and waterway.

Another perspective of the railway bridge on Driel.

Tactical Maps

Strong point positions and map layouts for both Driel, and El Alamein.

Driel, a North/South battle scenario.

El Alamein, a West/East battle scenario.

Great Britain Weapons

As we grow nearer to the release of British forces, let’s take a closer look at some of the weapons players will get to deploy with later this month.

Lanchester MK1
Well made and solid, the Lanchester MK1 was a submachine gun manufactured to offer British soldiers a reliable ruggedness, recognizing the value of the submachine gun after the events at Dunkirk.


Sten Gun
As a contrasting counterpart to the Lanchester submachine gun, the Sten entered the battlefield as a cheaper alternative to the Lanchester and the Allied favoured ‘Tommy’ gun, with the Sten’s ability to support more soldiers with submachine guns on the battlefield.


Bren MK2
Considered reliable in skilled hands, the Bren provided a slower firing rate that allowed for easier control and accounted for effective cooling between bursts.

Lee-Enfield Pattern 1914 (P14)
Used throughout WWI, the bolt action rifle went under further modification to support soldiers in WWII. Often used by snipers, the P14 was durable and somewhat heavier, contributing to its reputation for accuracy.

Lewis Gun
Designed in the United States and mass-produced in the United Kingdom, the Lewis gun featured a top-mounted pan magazine, as well as an aluminium barrel shroud to offer effective cooling. Following the loss of a large part of the British Army’s weaponry across France, many Lewis guns were repaired, before being issued to the British and Allied forces.


PIAT
Created in 1942 in response to the need for a more effective portable anti-tank weapon, the Projector, Infantry, Anti Tank (PIAT) offered greater penetration power than its anti-tank predecessors, and was able to launch projectiles over a more effective range.


Rifle No.4 MK1
A classic service rifle built with infantry in mind, offering a lighter and more robust design than the standard rifle.


Webley MK VI
Shortages of handguns during WWII meant that a number of older weapons were also reintroduced, including the Webley MK VI, which was issued to soldiers in the British Military.

Fairbairn Sykes Knife
Resembling a dagger, this double-edged fighting knife was issued to units within the British Army during WWII and designed for surprise attacks and fighting.


Sherman 76mm Firefly
Notorious in its tank destroying capability, the Sherman Firefly was one of the most common vehicles used by the British Forces, fitted with a powerful 17-pounder anti-tank gun.

Sherman Firefly - Heavy Tank.

Cromwell
With its Rolls-Royce Meteor engine, the Cromwell offered reliability and speed, while being a powerful medium tank.

Bedford Transport Truck and Cromwell - Medium Tank.

Tetrarch
Primarily used as support fire, this British light tank featured a quick-firing 2-pounder gun, produced by the Vickers-Armstrong company.

Daimler
Proving to be an important tool on the battlefield, the Daimler recon vehicle was fast, mobile, and lightly armored.

Great Britain Soldiers

As an initial introduction to the British forces, players will find their soldiers garbed in the British battledress. Worn mostly in temperate climates, Battledress was introduced before the start of WWII, and was worn as late as the 1960s.

Designed with mechanized infantry needs in mind, the British battledress comprised of a short wool jacket, buttoned to the outside of high-waisted wool serge trousers.

Great Britain Commander wearing the rubberised Macintosh Raincoat.

Infantry Soldier wearing the P-37 Battledress.

Cast Your Vote

In our last developer briefing, we asked for your input on which map you’d like to see refreshed later this year. Depending on the map chosen, the refresh goes above and beyond general optimization with a new lighting pass, a review of cover and accessible buildings, and even the opportunity to revisit capture points.

Head over to today’s Reddit post to cast your vote and discuss your ideas!

As a reminder, here are the options:

• Purple Heart Lane
  
• Sainte-Mère-Église
  
• Carentan
  
• Sainte-Marie-du-Mont
  
• Omaha Beach
  
• Utah Beach

Community News

We’re excited to announce that we’ll be exhibiting at FORMAT, the UK’s biggest games industry night life event, on the 25th May! Players local to Manchester will be able to head on down to the event, suit up as the British forces while trying out Update 14, and meet some of the team.

Secure your ticket now at {LINK REMOVED}https://bit.ly/hll-tickets and make sure to use the code FRM_MCR25 for 25% off!

War Correspondent, Content Creator, and Community HLL Videos

The Hell Let Loose Hungary community tried their hand at a cinematic remake of the iconic Fury Tiger vs Sherman tanks scene in-game, check this out:
https://youtu.be/hVVjjOfl_l4

A recon unit not to be messed with, watch SoulSniper and Scotty provide street overwatch on Carentan:
https://youtu.be/AWU5JaJ0gOw

It’s-a me, Mendez! Watch Alpine Sniper’s Hell Let Loose kart party, complete with a jeep obstacle race:
https://youtu.be/825wQO3FydU

For more like this, make sure to drop by some of our War Correspondent livestreams:

SquiddsTV: https://squidds.tv/stream


Saucymuffin: https://twitch.tv/saucymuffin

Velma_IRL: https://www.twitch.tv/velma_irl

Terrydactyl: https://www.twitch.tv/terrydactylgaming


W1ll67: https://www.twitch.tv/w1ll67


only_RzR07: https://www.twitch.tv/only_rzr07

On TikTok? Scroll through countless hours of some of the best Hell Let Loose moments:

Clean up on aisle three! RazBora: https://www.tiktok.com/@raz_bora/video/7225218339453340970

“Do you want one hand grenade, or double it and give it to the next person?”
Husk: https://www.tiktok.com/@imhusk/video/7214259301001481515

GebatronGaming has been sharing some great tips, like this one:
https://www.tiktok.com/@gebatrongaming/video/7113642661176905006

TL;DR on the last Dev Brief? Watch The Fresh Baked Goods break it down:
https://www.tiktok.com/@thefreshbakedgoods/video/7225736265478540586?_r=1&_t=8c0YtpQznDe


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

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


With that, we look forward to seeing the results of the voting over on Reddit, and will be readying up to share more details on all that’s coming with Update 14 in the next developer briefing.

We’ll see you on the frontline!

Hey everyone,

We wanted to start this week’s dev brief by saying a big thank you to those who’ve jumped into Update 13.5 and fed back on their experience so far. We’ve been busy going through your feedback on the different platforms and appreciate you sharing your reactions, both positive and negative.

Update 13.5 was the first of many planned health updates over the course of the year, aimed to improve quality of life and player experience. Hell Let Loose is a fantastic game on a massive scale, and as such, it’ll take time to fix all of the known issues and unfortunately create a few new ones along the way. However, we’re committed to eliminating all of the bugs and not introducing new ones as much as possible. As our team continues to get familiar with the project, we’ll fine-tune processes and procedures that will help us get patches and fixes out on a more regular basis.

During the reveal of the 2023 roadmap, we talked about transparency, and how we aim to be open and communicative throughout the future development of Hell Let Loose. Players can expect briefings twice a month along with some new communication channels that will be coming online later this year.

We’re taking the time to ensure the next update, Update 14, will include fixes for many of the bugs that have occurred with U13.5. In order to facilitate these fixes, alongside delivering two brand-new maps for the British Forces, we’ll be adjusting the 2023 roadmap by moving June’s “existing map refresh” to an update later this year. To that end, we want your input on which map we update! We’ve selected six maps and in the next dev brief, we’ll be releasing a poll for the community to vote which ones get updated. We encourage you to debate the best selection with your teammates, clans and friends, and in two weeks' time, we’ll take a vote.

Options:

• Purple Heart Lane
  
• Sainte-Mère-Église
  
• Carentan
  
• Sainte-Marie-du-Mont
  
• Omaha Beach
  
• Utah Beach

We’re grateful to be on this journey with you as we begin delivering frequent updates and content to Hell Let Loose and look forward to working with you as we isolate and fix more issues with each update this year.

Known Issues Post-U13.5

Server Performance and VoIP
Some players may be experiencing instances of rubberbanding and high ping, which are also effecting VoIP communications. Continued optimization will aim to bring increased stability to the game across all platforms.

Reload Animation Bug
On an empty chamber, some weapons are presenting a reload animation issue. The team prepared a fix for this, however, found the bug could still be replicated, therefore further investigation is required to ensure a complete fix can be prepared for U14.

Radio Box Clipping through Flamethrower
When players equip the Flammenwerfer on the Support role while wearing the Battle Scarred DLC uniform, a radio box appears to clip through the flamethrower. This issue is currently being investigated.

Other issues under investigation include, but are not limited to:

• Tank shell penetration issues
  
• Additional LOD concerns
  
• Floating pistol on character frontend menu
  
• Some issues with TPP sprinting animation when using some weapons

Roadmap Q&A

Will console ever receive server browsing functionality?
The short answer is yes, the more detailed answer is that this will take some time. A large amount of work has been done to bring console in parity with PC, but there is still a good amount of work that needs to be done before server browsing can be implemented. Console players will start to see some browsing options with U15 and we’ll make further improvements as the year progresses.

What British maps will we see in 2023?
Joining as a new playable faction, Update 14 features an initial introduction to the British forces. This update will see players taking control of Warfare and Offensive capture points across the barren landscape of North Africa, as well as the rolling farmlands of Holland.

We’ll be sharing a closer look in an upcoming Developer Brief, but for now, here’s a teaser of the North African map, El Alamein:


With structures few and far between, players will need to work together to cover their six.

A plane hangar situated in the dusty desert terrain.

What will be available in the in-game store?
Hell Let Loose will continue to focus on delivering historically accurate cosmetics, and the in-game store will be a new way for players to easily access both free and paid cosmetic DLC items.

Will content be separated based on the year of the map?
While covering one year of the war for each game calendar year, we want to ensure we’re keeping the player experience historically accurate, and are working on ways in which we can determine loadouts, vehicles, and cosmetics, are only applicable to specific maps while keeping the gameplay experience fun and engaging.

What exactly are the non-verbal communication tools?
For players unable to use a microphone or for those who don’t have access, non-verbal communication tools will be a way for players to communicate using in-game commands and visual markers. We have no intention of bringing emotes or anything else that breaks the player out the the immersive experience Hell Let Loose provides. Join us in a future Developer Briefing as we take a deep dive on how it will all work!

What will the free DLC include?
As a small thank you for joining us on this journey, we’ll be offering free DLC for players to get their hands on! This DLC will include different cosmetic items throughout the year. Not all of the Free DLC have been decided on, so feel free to send us suggestions.

What’s the difference between the two new game modes?
Our smaller game modes offer a new Hell Let Loose experience, where Objective, sees players working together to complete set tasks, and Skirmish will offer players the opportunity to jump into landmark battles over a single capture point.

Are mortars coming, and will some other items on the old roadmap be implemented?
At some point, yes. We don’t currently have a timeframe on this feature, but it’s something we want to include.

Can players expect tweaks to vehicles in the future?
Efforts to improve both armor and other vehicles are ongoing and will be rolled out in future updates. If you have specific suggestions, we’d love to hear from you.

Will RCON continue to be updated and see improvements?
Yes, we're looking to see where we can further support requested RCON updates for server owners.

Will the Finnish and Polish forces be designed and equipped the same as the factions currently in-game?
No, the winter war was a drastically different style of fighting and the new Skirmish mode in Danzig will be a different experience altogether. We have a range of specific weapons tailored to the individual forces that will reflect the historical content for each battlespace, while still maintaining a balanced gameplay experience.

With the addition of the 101st Airborne, can we expect further expansion of unit helmets/insignias?
Yes, we plan to introduce more notable factions to Hell Let Loose as we develop the 1 year of conflict for every calendar year.

Is the implementation of freelook being considered?
This is currently a ticket in our system and we are investigating whether it can be implemented.

In-game reporting tools?
We’ll be implementing a vote to kick system for our console players in the near future.

Iron Vanguard Returns

We’re pleased to announce that the Iron Vanguard DLC will be available for console players from the 26th of April! Back by popular demand, players will be able to take to the front lines with an array of unique helmets and uniforms. Roll up your sleeves and get stuck into the thick of it with the German forces, blend into the background in the Soviet “Ameba” camo helmet or take to the US tanks and show off the “Hell on Wheels” jacket!

Community Content

Seasonal has returned for it’s 7th edition! Already underway, Seasonal Spring 2023 features 32 teams from across the world, including North America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania, with over 4,000 players registered to participate.

Players will compete for 11 weeks, culminating in the playoffs that will decide who is the best 50v50 team in Hell Let Loose for Spring 2023!

Catch the action live and learn more about the tournament by joining the Seasonal Discord: discord.gg/hllseasonal


Check out the trailer below:
https://youtu.be/qhJaYUH-k00

War Correspondent, Content Creator, and Community HLL Videos

For new players jumping into Hell Let loose in anticipation of all the content coming later this year, Monoespacial has created an updated Beginner’s Guide:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWHBNP3zTEU&ab_channel=monoespacial

Need a refresh on the 2023 Roadmap Reveal? Watch this video by Terrydactyl:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhVureIIyPM

Gebatron Gaming gives a side-by-side look at some of the changes in U13.5:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTDjrfy4VNk&ab_channel=GebatronGaming

Check out this incredible remake of Saving Private Ryan in Hell Let Loose, by Valkyria HLL:
https://youtu.be/hlEUcuHuKYw


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

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 for continuing to support Hell Let Loose, we look forward to seeing you all on the frontline!

Hey everyone,

Update 13.5 is now live, bringing with it a whole host of game improvements aimed to increase stability. For the console patch notes, please click here.
Check out the full changelog below:

Update 13.5 Changelog

HUD/UI

• Added a brand-new cinematic character selection frontend menu
  
• Added a new animated loading screen
  
• Updated credits
  
• [Fixed] Hovering over the Russian Anti-tank loadouts reduces UI size in the Barracks

Optimization

• Performance improvements to Kursk

To further facilitate performance improvements, the following Easter eggs were removed:

• Teddy Bears
  
• Worm Figures
  
• Gnomes

Effects

• [Fixed] Environmental fire emitting red beams of light on multiple maps
  
• [Fixed] [Hill 400] Specific burning AT gun wreck presenting noticeable lighting issue

Sounds

• Added an updated frontend music track for the character selection menu

Animation

• New benchmark first and third-person reload animations for the MP40, M1 Garand, and Tokarev TT33
  
• Improvements to the player’s sprint and crouch animations for the third-person base rifle animation set
  
• Added new aim offsets when the player is sprinting and looks up and down
  
• [Fixed] The Player model T-posing when deploying an ammo box / explosive ammo box
  
• [Fixed] [TPP] Rocket Launchers flip 90 degrees when the player holding it is shot

Game Crash Fixes

• [Fixed] Player may crash when attempting to deploy on Kursk

Weapon Bug Fixes

• [Fixed] [FPP] Issue with the MG42 disappearing while mounted and ADSing
  
• [Fixed] German flamethrower is invisible in first person

VoIP Improvements

• [Fixed] The VOIP volumes are reset after the map changes

General Bug Fixes

• [Fixed] Instances of German helmets presenting texture issues
  
• [Fixed] Some instances of experience earned in-game not being saved
  
• [Fixed] Some players lose focus of the scoreboard after choosing and resigning from the Commander role
  
• [Fixed] Barricades becoming invisible after 300m and not protecting the player
  
• [Fixed] Player uniform preview defaulting to Preset #1 even if Preset #2 has been selected

New Cosmetics

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2331690/Hell_Let_Loose__Near_Miss/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2331691/Hell_Let_Loose__Battle_Scarred/


The team have gone through a selection of maps and fixed a range of environmental assets presenting problems, including LOD and lighting issues, as well as misaligned assets and terrain, across all platforms.

Kursk

[Fixed] Volumetric light source too bright
[Fixed] Trees clipping through rocks across map
[Fixed] AT mines clip into the ground when placed on various road sections
[Fixed] Players floating when jumping between wooden fences
[Fixed] LOD issue when viewing houses from 29m
[Fixed] Destroyed house assets disappearing at 400m or more
[Fixed] Visible LOD transition issue on wooden pallet assets
[Fixed] Floating objects present inside house asset
[Fixed] Barbed wire assets with LOD transition issues
[Fixed] Multiple metallic barrel assets missing texture with wooden PFX and SFX
[Fixed] [C9] Misaligned bush
[Fixed] [C10] Misaligned terrain
[Fixed] [C10] Fence doorway blocking players walking through
[Fixed] [D4] Tanks presenting LOD issues from 5m
[Fixed] [D5] Windmill with poor LOD transition
[Fixed] [D8, F2, F7, G2] Multiple houses with LOD issues from 150m
[Fixed] [E1] Multiple misaligned mudbanks
[Fixed] [E1, G1] Multiple misaligned mudbanks and textures
[Fixed] [E3] Piece of road missing collision with dropped supplies
[Fixed] [E9] Crater misaligned with terrain
[Fixed] [E10] Military crate misaligned with terrain
[Fixed] [F1] Road with misalignment issues
[Fixed] [F1] Misaligned tree stumps
[Fixed] [F1] Logs with LOD issues from 170m
[Fixed] [F1] Misaligned house requiring door to be vaulted
[Fixed] [F2] Floating fence
[Fixed] [F2] Multiple trenches with LOD transition issues at close range
[Fixed] [F3] House with LOD issues at 35m
[Fixed] [F3] Misaligned terrain on a trench
[Fixed] [F7] Wooden crates with LOD transition issues
[Fixed] [G1] Missing endcap on mudbank allowing players to see through asset
[Fixed] [G1] Misaligned trench section and mudbank
[Fixed] [G8] Player collision missing for burning building
[Fixed] [G9] Ruined house with LOD issues at 43m
[Fixed]

Hey everyone,

Thank you for joining us for the reveal of the 2023 roadmap! If you haven’t checked out the full video yet, you can watch the reveal below.

A Message From The Studio

We’re so pleased to announce our ambitious 2023 roadmap for Hell Let Loose! We can’t wait for fans to jump in and play U13.5 on April 5th, as well as all the exciting updates we have planned this year. It’s been an awesome start to the year as we’ve built this new studio, defined the 2023 roadmap, and announced our plans to support the title for years to come.

With each update this year, we’ll focus on improving quality of life along with updating and polishing the amazing content already in the game. As a gift to the players joining us on this adventure we’ll be offering free DLC with each major update to coincide with some amazing new premium items throughout the year.

We understand the importance of getting new players up to speed quickly so they can enjoy frontline battles with our veteran players and contribute to the squad-based experience Hell Let Loose is known for. We’re dedicated to bringing a robust onboarding system to players starting in July with continued support in each update going forward. We want everyone to have an exciting and immersive experience in the game and hope this new system will go a long way to support that.

The teams are hard at work refining the two new game modes coming in July and December, along with the anticipated Finnish Winter War and Danzig Post Office battles, which kick off our new one year of war content for each game calendar year. Starting this year, we'll cover 1939, then move into 1940 next year, and continue until the end of the conflict in 1945.

We’re steadfast in delivering this exciting 2023 roadmap to players and will be transparent with the community regarding any changes if and when they surface. We’ll have more to share about the new studio in the coming weeks, but in the meantime, we’d like to answer some of your questions about the 2023 roadmap and hear any suggestions you might have for our new Hell Let Loose merchandise store. We want to offer compelling items players will be excited to wear and use, so feel free to send us your input and leave your questions below to be answered in a future dev brief.

Thank you to all our veteran players and welcome to any new players just discovering Hell Let Loose. We appreciate you and want to support your love of the game!

Updating the Discord

As Hell Let Loose continues to evolve, the Official Discord server will be undergoing updates and maintenance to ensure it can continue being a platform for all community members.


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

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 look forward to seeing you all on the frontline!

Hey everyone,

We are pleased to announce that the next update to Hell Let Loose will be released on the 5th of April! This week, we’re diving into the further optimizations coming in U13.5, as well as sharing a first look at the new German Heer DLC.

The team is also excited to share that the complete 2023 roadmap for Hell Let Loose will be arriving ahead of Update 13.5. To join us for the reveal, make sure to stay tuned and follow Hell Let Loose on YouTube!

Continuous Improvements

U13.5 is the first of many health updates to land this year, with a focus on increased stability across all platforms. The new team have prepared further fixes for a range of performance-related bugs, as well as begun updating the overall Hell Let Loose experience. This includes animation optimizations, new rigging in preparation for the upcoming DLC uniforms, and a focus on updating existing content throughout the year.

Game Notices, Error Codes, and Haptics

While the final changelog will outline all platform fixes in more detail, a range of visual bugs and connection errors, as well as haptic feedback issues, have also been addressed in U13.5, aiming to provide better stability for console players, which you can read more about {LINK REMOVED}here.

Investigating Other Known Issues

Although not addressed in Update 13.5, the team is looking into some of Hell Let Loose’s existing known issues, including:

Loadout Bug
With the addition of the new game analytics in U13.5, the team is hoping to further understand how this issue occurs, in order to successfully address it in a future update.

Grenade Bug
Similarly, the new game analytics should now provide data to better understand how some players experience difficulties with launching grenades.

Hit Registration
Reported issues of inconsistent damage dealt when firing at an enemy player are continuing to be investigated.

Wavy Lines
Previous observations of wavy line artifacts across some assets are also being investigated.

Weapon Firing & Missing Audio
The team is keen to further understand issues where some weapons temporarily do not fire, as well as instances of the Karabiner 98k missing the bolt action sound.

Reworking Reload Animations

Alongside optimization and stability improvements, Update 13.5 will also see the initial efforts to bring parity to the first and third-person reload animations. The team has begun improving the overall feel of some animations by introducing a more detailed style, better representing how these weapons are handled in real life.

M1 Garand
The United States Army standard issue M1 Garand reload animations have been updated to reflect using the side of the hand to keep the thumb clear of the mechanism, avoiding Garand Thumb.


M1 Garand first-person perspective reload animation.


M1 Garand third-person perspective reload animation.


M1 Garand third-person perspective prone reload animation.

MP40
The base pose of handling the MP40 has now been updated to match that of the third-person pose, which is the more commonly used grip for the weapon.


MP40 first-person perspective reload animation.


MP40 third-person perspective reload animation.


MP40 third-person perspective prone reload animation.

Tokarev TT33
The reload animation for the Tokarev TT33 has been improved to feel more tactile and have more intent behind the action.


Tokarev TT33 first-person perspective reload animation.


Tokarev TT33 third-person perspective reload animation.


Tokarev TT33 third-person perspective prone reload animation.

Locomotion Improvements

The team have also begun improving base locomotion, which players can expect to see in a future update. Efforts have been made to ensure sprint and crouch sprint will match a player’s actual speed, as well as make the crouch sprint feel more controlled and natural.

Further work has been carried out to increase the fidelity of character skeletons, enabling better-quality animations to be created in the future. New methods have been introduced which will allow the team to reduce the performance impact of characters.

Aim Offsets
New aim offsets have been created so that when the player is sprinting and looks up and down, it does not affect the whole body and distort them into unnatural posts in the third-person perspective. It will now be more natural, with the looking up and down mainly coming from the head, with a small amount of chest movement.

Battle Scarred DLC

Surviving the frontlines and wearing the scars to prove it, these new German uniforms tell stories of close calls and hard-fought battles.

Heer Veteran Jacket
Arriving with Update 13.5, the Heer Veteran Jacket reflects the realities of war, and commands respect from new infantry soldiers who can visibly see the wounds of battle, worn proudly.


Initial modeling of the Heer Veteran Jacket.


The unbuttoned jacket has seen better days, with worn material and missing buttons, complete with a neck scarf.

Heer Shirt
The intense and unwinding pressure of the campaign is apparent in the more casual Heer Shirt, as it provides relief from midsummer's stifling heat.


Initial modeling of the Heer Shirt.


The German Heer Shirt sees the jacket fully removed, displaying the Heer cotton shirt with rolled-up sleeves and a disheveled neck scarf.

A New Story To Be Told

As part of the team’s wider updates to the game, a brand-new cinematic character selection frontend menu has been designed. Offering a nighttime farm-building scene with a distant artillery bombardment, this features all-new visual effects, from the smoking wreck of the Panther to the explosions over the horizon.


Updated Frontend Teaser

Community Content

In support of the Wounded Warrior Project, BR1 Gaming Inc. will be kicking off their annual Veteran Charity Campaign, Road to D-Day, on the 4th of April!

Their first Hell Let Loose event, Operation Jubilee, will be held on the 14th of April. For more information, please visit br1gaming.com.

War Correspondent, Content Creator and Community HLL Videos

Tempted to try the Commander role? Check out these tips on playing Commander by Gebatron Gaming!
https://youtu.be/NymDZBveRsU

After visiting Carentan last year, Hazlr has created a comparison between Carentan in real life, and Carentan in Hell Let Loose:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Yc938GO34U

Get eyes on this preview of The Breaking Point Band of Brothers Reenactment by Chimera OCE and edited by Das:
https://youtu.be/wSt7bL6FiLk



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

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


With not long left to wait until the future plans for Hell Let Loose are finally revealed, you’ll soon be seeing us on the frontline!

Hey everyone,

In our last developer briefing, we were excited to announce that Hell Let Loose is now fully supported with a new dedicated studio, allowing us to prioritize quality of life improvements ahead of launching new content.

Today we want to go into more detail surrounding the first health update, which will be released across all platforms early next month.

New Game Analytics

With a key focus on supporting the player experience, we’ve begun implementing in-game analytics. This provides crucial data to the development team, allowing them to better identify and understand player pain points in real-time, directly improving gameplay.

This addition will also help the team understand issues that are hard to reproduce, making bug fixing faster and more efficient, with an effort to get fixes to players quicker.

This first implementation of game analytics will provide insights into server health. Additional processes are being designed and implemented to further support performance testing across all content.

Our team is made up of dedicated gamers and as such, player privacy is of utmost importance to us. Personal data will not be collected without the express permission from players, and we are designing all analytics processes to follow strict GDPR guidance. For further information about how we address personal data, please see our Privacy Policy.

Improving Stability & Performance

After the release of Update 13, Burning Snow, several stability and performance issues were raised and identified. This initial health update aims to address many known issues, including performance related concerns. Subsequent updates will see continued optimization adjustments as the team focuses on quality of life improvements.

While a full changelog will be supplied upon release, some notable updates include:

VoIP Functionality
Working closely with VIVOX, we’ve made improvements to how VoIP operates, which aims to increase the comms stability and reduce disconnects.

Server Stability & Performance
In response to latency issues experienced by some players, new IP routing has already been implemented for all official South American Hell Let Loose servers on PC.

After further investigation, we’ve identified some server stability issues surrounding HLODs which have had an impact on machine memory on all platforms. We’re now optimizing the stability and overall performance of HLOD settings across multiple maps.

Kursk
This update will see Kursk back in rotation across all platforms. We’ve addressed issues concerning misaligned terrain and collision performance, as well as lighting and LOD issues, aiming to increase performance and stability.

Stalingrad
Some environmental misalignment and LOD issues present on Stalingrad are getting resolved in this update. We’ve also addressed an issue with unlocking the Defender of the Motherland achievement after playing Stalingrad five times. Some known instances of the players becoming stuck will also get resolved.

Carentan
You can expect to see continuous LOD improvements across Carentan, as well as fixes for items missing and presenting incorrect textures, asset clipping, and some outpost deployment issues.

Other Maps
More detail regarding optimization within the update of the following maps will be detailed in the final changelog:

• Hill400
  
• Sainte-Marie-du-Mont
  
• Sainte-Mère-Église
  
• Purple Heart Lane
  
• Purple Heart Lane Night
  
• Omaha Beach
  
• Remagen
  
• Kharkov
  
• Utah Beach
  
• Hürtgen Forest
  
• Hürtgen Forest Night
  
• Foy

Known Issues Post U13

This update will also address bug reports from Update 13, including, but not limited to:

Gameplay

• Issues with the MG42 firing after being reloaded
  
• Instances of MGs disappearing when mounted
  
• Player model occasionally T-posing when deploying ammo
  
• Barricades becoming invisible after 300m and not protecting the player

UX/UI

• Player uniform preview defaulting to Preset #1 even if Preset #2 has been selected
  
• Hovering over the Russian Anti-Tank loadouts causes the Barracks UI to reduce its size

VFX/SFX

• Some helmets show an incorrect texture

Free DLC - Near Miss

We want to say a big thank you to our entire community for continuing to support Hell Let Loose and welcoming the new team onboard. To express our gratitude, we’ll be releasing a brand new, free DLC, that’ll be landing alongside the update next month - here’s a sneak peek.

The intense damage war can inflict on a soldier's loadout is on full display in this new unique helmet pack, depicting close calls for each faction.




“Near Miss” M42 Battle Damaged Helmet (German)

The M42 is a German fabric covered helmet that’s seen better days. Battle damage from flying shrapnel and stray bullets ripped through the outer covering, exposing the dented protective layers beneath, nearly causing this infantry soldier to fall back in retreat.



“Near Miss” M1 Battle Damaged Helmet (US)

This heavily dented M1 helmet carries the forceful and violent scars of battle including falling prey to a sniper’s headshot. Luckily, the round merely added another blemish and didn't penetrate the outer shell.



“Near Miss” SSh-40 Battle Damaged Helmet (Soviet)

Ravaged by war, this Soviet helmet shows the carnage of high speed shrapnel hurling through the air. Not missing a moment on the frontlines, this particular SSh-40 has rusted with the seasons.

Weeklong and Steam Spring Sale

Kicking things off ahead of the Spring Sale, you can now pick up Hell Let Loose with a 33% discount on Steam, and enlist new recruits to prepare for the battles ahead!

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

Community Content

We certainly haven't been the only ones hard at work, check out some of the incredible artwork and screenshots coming through on the Official Hell Let Loose Discord server.

A cold and miserable tanker, inspired by the events in Bastogne. Illustrated by Lucas Roman



A United States soldier with the M2-2 Flamethrower waiting just out of sight, captured by SoulSniper



Infantry avoiding an incoming bombing run, captured by [233C] Chrysallia

War Correspondent, Content Creator and Community HLL Videos

Missed our last Developer Brief? Check out this video by Monoespacial!
https://youtu.be/cyptO18--O4

This is why you should play Hell Let Loose - Tomographic
https://youtu.be/_YU4t5Z5Fe0

Battle Highlights: Sainte-Mère-Église, January 22, 2023 - SoulSniper
https://youtu.be/w8_SqQ1uNy4

In case you weren’t sure you needed to see this, here’s The Fresh Basked Goods operating a tank with Bongos:
https://youtu.be/gk9gAHK0rD0



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

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

Join us next time for more detail on the update and see a first look at the upcoming battle-weary, infantry paid DLC, which will also be coming next month. See you all on the frontline!