One of the most recognizable symbols of the Vietnam War is coming to Hell Let Loose: Vietnam in the game’s first major content update — and it will not be an unlicensed imitation. The officially licensed Bell UH-1 Iroquois, better known as the Huey, will arrive in September and mark the beginning of a major expansion for the tactical shooter.
The newly published Hell Let Loose: Vietnam roadmap covers the remainder of 2026. Expression Games is preparing three major stages: Update 1.5, Update 2.0 and Update 3.0. Together, they will introduce two maps, several weapons, new vehicles, additional soldier models and a battalion system.
The studio is not planning to prioritize new content at the expense of the technical side of the game. Optimization, bug fixes, polish and quality-of-life improvements will continue alongside the larger updates.
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What Is Coming to Hell Let Loose: Vietnam in 2026?
The roadmap is designed to expand the battlefield gradually. September’s update will focus on weapons and air transportation, while the following releases will introduce new combat zones and additional tactical options.
| Update | Major Additions | What It Means for Players |
|---|---|---|
| Update 1.5 | Huey, M14 and Type 56 SKS | New weapons and more authentic air support |
| Update 2.0 | Khe Sanh map, ANZAC and three weapons | A new battlefield and additional Allied combat roles |
| Update 3.0 | Rung Sat map, APCs and four weapons | Greater mobility, more vehicles and additional loadout options |
| Release Date TBA | Battalions and vehicle skins | New tools for clans and permanent player groups |
Exact release dates for Update 2.0 and Update 3.0 have not been announced. The current schedule should therefore be treated as a plan for the remainder of the year that may still change during development.
Update 1.5 Will Add the Huey, M14 and Type 56 SKS
The first major expansion will be Update 1.5, scheduled to arrive in September. US Forces will receive the M14 rifle, while the North Vietnamese Army will gain access to the Chinese-produced Type 56 SKS. Both weapons have been heavily requested by the community since launch.
The centerpiece of the update, however, will be the Huey. It is the first officially licensed vehicle in the history of the Hell Let Loose franchise, with the in-game model being created in partnership with Bell.
The helicopter will feature an onboard radio that can be heard by its passengers and nearby soldiers. Music will be synchronized between helicopters flying close to each other, creating a shared soundtrack during large-scale air assaults. Players will be able to disable the radio, which should be useful for streamers and anyone who wants to focus exclusively on squad communications and battlefield audio.
The Huey is important for more than its iconic appearance. In 50v50 matches, it could significantly change the way infantry units move across the battlefield by:
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transporting squads to distant objectives more quickly;
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making aerial routes easier for teams to coordinate;
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increasing the importance of communication between pilots and commanders;
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turning landing zones into new high-risk combat areas.
New Khe Sanh and Rung Sat Maps Will Change the Pace of Battle
Update 2.0 will introduce the game’s first post-launch map, Khe Sanh. According to the developers, it will offer a noticeably different atmosphere and style of combat compared to the launch locations.
The Allied side will also be reinforced by soldiers from the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, better known as ANZAC. Their arsenal will include the semi-automatic L1A1 SLR rifle, the F1 submachine gun and the L16A1 mortar. Together, these weapons cover everything from close-range encounters to indirect fire support.
The next battlefield will be Rung Sat, a region defined by dense jungle and swampy terrain. Update 3.0 will also add American and North Vietnamese armored personnel carriers. APCs should help squads cross open areas more quickly, although crews will need to choose their routes carefully when navigating swamps and narrow jungle passages.
The game’s arsenal will expand with four more weapons:
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the Stoner 63 weapon system;
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a scoped version of the M14;
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the MAT-49 submachine gun;
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the SVD Dragunov marksman rifle.
The Allied side will also receive Green Beret and Navy SEAL character models, while additional appearance variants are planned for the North Vietnamese Army.
How Battalions Will Help Hell Let Loose: Vietnam Clans
Another important part of the roadmap is Battalions 1.0, an in-game system designed for clans and established communities. The feature does not yet have a release date and will launch once its initial development is complete.
The first version is expected to let players create permanent groups, track member statistics, progress together, unlock content and join servers alongside other members of their battalion.
This direction makes particular sense for Hell Let Loose: Vietnam. The shooter is built around communication and clearly defined battlefield roles, but a randomly assembled team cannot always coordinate a complex landing or organized assault. Battalions could help bridge the gap between regular matchmaking and structured clan battles.
What the Hell Let Loose: Vietnam Roadmap Means for Players
Expression Games’ plan offers more than a routine collection of new rifles and cosmetic items. Each major update targets a different part of the experience: Update 1.5 develops air transportation, Update 2.0 expands infantry roles, and Update 3.0 adds greater ground mobility alongside more demanding battlefields.
The game’s technical condition remains the biggest question. Hell Let Loose: Vietnam still has mixed user reviews on Steam at the time of the roadmap’s publication, meaning that bug fixes and optimization may prove just as important as the Huey or new maps.
If the developers can introduce this content without compromising stability, Hell Let Loose: Vietnam should become a considerably broader and more varied game by the end of 2026. The first major test will come in September with Update 1.5, the M14, Type 56 SKS and the first officially licensed Huey in franchise history.
