REVIEW · LAUNCH WINDOW
Hell Let Loose: Vietnam Review & Verdict
A launch-window read on the 50 vs 50 tactical shooter from Expression Games and Team17.
What it is
Hell Let Loose: Vietnam is a realistic, squad-based first-person shooter about teamwork and the chain of command, made by Expression Games and published by Team17. It moves the series from World War II to the Vietnam War: you fight as the US Armed Forces or the North Vietnamese Army across six large maps, in 50 vs 50 matches with no campaign. Built on Unreal Engine 5, it adds swimming, climbing, and fast-crawling, lets the NVA dig tunnel networks, and gives US forces helicopters and patrol boats.
What it gets right
- The scale and the loop are proven. The 50 vs 50, sector-control format is the series' strength, and the Vietnam setting adds jungle, rivers, and new movement that change how fights play out.
- Asymmetric flavour. NVA tunnels vs US Huey helicopters and patrol boats give the two sides distinct tools rather than a reskin.
- Roles for every play style. 17 roles across six units — from Rifleman to Pilot to Mortar Gunner — mean newcomers and veterans both have a place.
- They took time to polish. After a 350,000-player beta, the team delayed the launch two months (from June 18 to August 13, 2026) to address feedback. That's a good sign for a coordination-heavy multiplayer game where a shaky launch hurts most.
- Broad store reach on PC. Steam, Epic Games Store, and Microsoft Store at once.
Watch-outs
- No single-player. If you wanted a campaign, this isn't it — every match needs a live squad and comms.
- High system demands. UE5 plus 100 players means a real GPU floor (RTX 2060 Super / RX 6600 XT) and 16 GB RAM.
- Crossplay is console-only at launch. PS5 and Xbox play together; PC and console pools are separate.
- Review score is unknown. Until players and critics post, the "is it actually fun at scale" question is open.
Who should buy
- ✅ Fans of large-scale, communication-first tactical shooters.
- ✅ Players who want a fresh theatre (jungle/river warfare) in the Hell Let Loose formula.
- ✅ Groups with mics who enjoy squad coordination over lone-hero play.
- ❌ Solo players wanting a campaign.
- ❌ Anyone on a low-spec or integrated-graphics PC.
- ❌ Players who need PC-to-console crossplay at day one.
Verdict
At a $39.99 standard price (or $35.99 with the pre-order discount) and with a delayed, beta-tested launch, Hell Let Loose: Vietnam looks like a safe pick for the tactical-shooter crowd — provided you go in with a squad and a decent PC. We're holding the final score until the review aggregate lands. Buy it if you want large-scale jungle warfare and you have people to coordinate with.