Team17 and Expression Games have opened the first crossplay playtest for Hell Let Loose: Vietnam, running this weekend on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, with a new map and developer Q&A revealing fresh gameplay details
Team17 and Expression Games have officially launched the first open crossplay playtest for Hell Let Loose: Vietnam, giving players on PC (Steam), PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S the chance to experience the upcoming expansion's new content ahead of release. The playtest, which began at 2PM BST on Friday 24 July 2026, is scheduled to run until Monday 27 July at the same time, and is accessible to all players with the required platform subscriptions. This marks the first time Hell Let Loose: Vietnam has been available for simultaneous testing across all major platforms.
New Đắk Tô Airfield Map and Gameplay Focus
The centrepiece of this playtest is the debut of the Đắk Tô Airfield map, inspired by the real-world Battle of Đắk Tô in November 1967. The map features a long, open airstrip surrounded by less dense terrain than the series' typical jungle environments, demanding coordinated movement and communication. Players will encounter impact craters, destroyed vehicles and active artillery bombardments, with the open spaces offering new tactical opportunities for armour and reconnaissance units. The map's design aims to capture the intensity and unpredictability of Vietnam-era warfare, while encouraging squad-based tactics over lone-wolf play.
Alongside the playtest, Expression Games has released Part 1 of a new developer Q&A series, The Command Post, available in both vlog and blog formats. The session features lead developers discussing performance targets, weapon development, and the broader roadmap for Hell Let Loose: Vietnam. While the Q&A offers insight into the team's ambitions, it stops short of confirming final performance metrics or a full feature list for launch.
Access Conditions and Platform Details
The open playtest is available to all players on Steam, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, though console users will need an active PlayStation Plus or Xbox Game Pass Essential subscription to participate. On Steam, access is granted via a request button on the Hell Let Loose: Vietnam store page, while console players can download a dedicated playtest application from their respective digital storefronts. The test is limited to the Đắk Tô Airfield map and does not include the full range of content planned for the final release.
At launch, Hell Let Loose: Vietnam is expected to feature six large-scale maps, 50 vs 50 multiplayer battles, historically accurate weapons and vehicles, and new US aerial units alongside NVA forces. The developers have also highlighted dynamic weather variants and river-based patrol boat combat as part of the expansion's core features. However, the current playtest is focused on technical stability, crossplay functionality and player feedback on the new map's design.
Development Status and Roadmap
Hell Let Loose: Vietnam remains in active development, with the open playtest representing a key milestone in the project's timeline. The developer Q&A hints at further updates and content reveals in the coming months, but a final release date for the expansion has not yet been announced. Team17 and Expression Games are encouraging participants to provide feedback on performance, balance and crossplay experience to help shape the final product.
For those interested in broader trends in upcoming game releases and technical tests, NGB recently covered the arrival of the BROMS: Battle Royale Management Simulator demo, which also offers early hands-on access to new gameplay systems. Readers can find more on that story in our coverage of BROMS' Steam demo launch.
Crossplay, the ability for players on different platforms to play together in the same online session, has become an increasingly important feature for multiplayer games. Implementing crossplay requires careful synchronisation of network code, matchmaking systems and platform-specific requirements, as well as ongoing anti-cheat and account management solutions. For players, crossplay can reduce matchmaking times and expand the active player base, but it also introduces challenges around input parity and balancing between PC and console users. The Hell Let Loose: Vietnam playtest is a practical demonstration of these complexities, as the developers gather data to refine the experience ahead of full release.
