The crossplay playtest for Hell Let Loose: Vietnam is now live across PC, Xbox, and PS5, and runs until Monday, July 27 at 6am PDT / 9am EDT / 2pm BST / 3pm CEST / 11pm AEST. The test includes the new Đắk Tô Airfield map, updated tunnel and helicopter gameplay, and full crossplay, but comes with several known issues the team is working on before the August 13 launch.

The switch from VIVOX to Epic Online Services (EOS) for voice chat has introduced distortion when players open and close radio channels. To reduce the problem, the default toggle setting has been changed to "On" so channels can stay open. Party voice chat is not available in this build.

• VOIP distortion: highest priority; the team is working directly with FMOD and Epic to resolve it.
• Performance: occasional FPS drops under intense combat; optimisation continues.
• Stability: crashes on certain AMD GPUs due to a known AMD driver issue. FSR support for AMD users is targeting launch in August.
• Graphical polish: lighting inconsistencies on U.S. character models, console-specific shadow popping.
• Tactical Map: brief performance drops on open; teammate icons may not appear on first spawn.
• Tutorials and UI: placeholder text, incorrect prompts, HUD elements that don’t update correctly. The NVA Offensive progress indicator displays incorrectly during the warm-up phase.
• Minimum specs: available via the game’s store page.

On Steam, visit the Hell Let Loose: Vietnam store page and click “request access” to download the separate playtest app. PS5 and Xbox players can find the Hell Let Loose: Vietnam Playtest app in their respective stores (an active PS+ or Xbox Game Pass Essential subscription is required). Xbox users should also check under My Games & Apps → Full Library → Free with Xbox → Demos.

Server names indicate platform restrictions:

• X = Xbox only
• P = PS5 only
• C = Console crossplay (Xbox & PS5)
• All other servers support full crossplay between PC, Xbox, and PS5.

Any XP, unlocks, or progression earned during the playtest will not transfer to the full game when it launches on August 13. The team encourages players to fill out the feedback survey to help shape the final release.

Expression Games has released the first part of a developer Q&A for Hell Let Loose: Vietnam, covering performance improvements, gameplay balancing, and map design. The post addresses feedback from the Open Beta and outlines changes ahead of launch, focusing heavily on the asymmetrical balance between the NVA and US Forces.

The team has made targeted adjustments to NVA tunnels to reduce their strategic dominance without removing them. Tunnels are now automatically destroyed when the enemy captures friendly territory. Cooldowns increased from 2 to 5 minutes, travel and entry times are longer, the maximum distance between two tunnels is reduced from 800m to 400m, and the distance check before a new tunnel can be placed has doubled to 100m.

At the same time, US helicopters received improvements: refined flight handling, greater resilience to small arms fire, and the ability for Officers to deploy spawn points via their Field Pad upon exiting. These changes aim to keep both factions viable while preserving their unique playstyles.

Since the Open Beta, the team has continued optimising rendering, animation, and graphics settings across PC and console. Enemy movement at distance—a common complaint—has been smoothed out after an initial optimisation pass that caused stuttering. Audio has been rebalanced for better directional awareness, and weapon VFX (muzzle flashes, depth of field through optics) have been polished.

Console optimisation is ongoing alongside PC. The upcoming cross-platform playtest will be a key milestone. Post-launch, Unreal Engine upgrades and support for the PlayStation 5 Pro are confirmed as part of the live service roadmap.

Resource nodes see a significant change: pre-placed supplies at each Headquarters allow Engineers to build nodes immediately at match start, reducing early-game friction. Teams can still build elsewhere for security. The Time to Kill remains similar to Hell Let Loose, but dense jungle and reduced sightlines shift emphasis to positioning and movement over pure accuracy.

Napalm has been overhauled into an area-denial tool, leaving thick smoke that blocks visibility and disrupts enemy movement. The 3D tactical map has been optimised for faster access and better readability, with roads, rivers, and elevation clearer. Since it’s generated from the game world, it updates automatically with map changes.

On maps, the team confirmed that urban combat is part of the long-term vision, with the Battle of Huế a location they’d like to explore. Night maps are being actively experimented with but won’t be in at launch—any implementation would have dedicated gameplay systems like flares and floodlights. Future maps under investigation include Huế and Hạ Long Bay, though nothing is confirmed.

Part 2 of the Q&A, covering development process and the future of Hell Let Loose: Vietnam, is coming soon.