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U21 Experimental Branch is LIVE

Hell Let Loose · published

Hello everyone,

The Update 21 Experimental Branch Playtest is LIVE NOW on Steam!

Jump in and test the latest additions and changes coming in Update 21, including:

  • New weapons
  • New loadouts
  • Fire-mode selectors
  • Conquest game mode
  • Armor and Anti-Tank changes

➡️ To join, head to Hell Let Loose > Properties > Betas on Steam and select Exp_Branch.Please submit your feedback here:

Read the full breakdown of everything coming in Update 21:
🔗 Blog - Dev Brief #220 | What's Coming Next? | Hell Let Loose | Hell Let Loose

Weapons

This experimental branch will include 5 new weapons:

  • The M1903A3 Springfield (US)

  • The ROKS 2 Flamethrower (Soviets)

  • The M7 Grenade Launcher for the M1 Garand (US)

  • The Schiessbecher Grenade Launcher for the Karabiner 98k (Germany)

  • The No.1 MK I Cup Discharger Grenade Launcher for the SMLE No.1 MK III EY (Britain and Canada)

For the purposes of this Experimental branch, all of the above weapons will be unlocked by default for all players to try. Come release they will be locked behind their respective loadout levels.

Rifle Grenades

As mentioned above, this update is adding Rifle Grenades, a new weapon type. They are unique in that they can swap between being used as a regular infantry weapon and a grenade launcher. Players can hold the fire select button (CAPS lock on keyboard, right d-pad on controller) to open up a radial wheel listing all available grenade types or simply tap the button to quick swap to their most recently selected grenade. Note that swapping will take some time to complete depending on if the weapon has been fired or not.The exact number of grenades available will vary depending on the role using it. The available grenades are:

  • Frag grenades, with a similar explosion radius to a regular thrown grenade

  • Smoke Grenades

  • AT grenades, with a smaller explosion radius but light armour penetration making them capable of taking out lighter tanks from the rear, structures (but not garrisons) and the tracks on medium and heavy tanks

Historically some of the grenades used would have had timed fuses, but for gameplay reasons, all of them will act as impact grenades.

Fire Selector

All weapons that historically featured fire select modes have now had that functionality implemented. You can now freely toggle fire modes on the following weapons

  • MG34

  • FG42

  • STG 44

  • BAR (fast and slow auto)

  • Thompson M1

  • Thompson M1928a1

  • Bren Gun

  • Sten Gun MK2

  • Sten Gun MK2 (Canadian)

  • Sten Gun Mk5

  • PPSH 41

Fire modes can currently be toggled by pressing Caps lock on keyboard

Loadout Changes

All factions with Rifle Grenades have received the following loadouts

Rifleman

Level 8 loadout with a Rifle Grenade with 4 Frag and 2 Smoke Grenades

Medic

Level 6 loadout with a Rifle Grenade with 6 smoke Grenades

Engineer

Level 8 loadout with a Rifle Grenade with 3 AT, 2 Frag and 1 Smoke GrenadeOn top of these, there have been several other loadout additions and alterations:

US Rifleman

  • New level 6 loadout for the US Rifleman called “Marksman”.

  • Comes equipped with a M1903A3 Springfield and an explosive ammo box.

US Tank Commander

  • US tank commander’s default loadout weapon changed to the M3 Grease Gun from the Thompson.

Default Crewman

  • The blowtorch equipment is now available on all default Crewman loadouts.

Technician Wrench

  • Added the ability to build nodes with the Technician wrench.

US Anti-tank

  • Primary weapon for the default US Anti-tank role changed from the M1 Garand to the M1 Carbine (the level 3 loadout will keep the Garand)

US Operator

  • Primary default loadout weapon changed to the Springfield M1903A3

Armour Changes

SPAS

All SPA gunner seats now have a single additional zoom level. On top of this the default SPA that spawns in each team’s HQ will now auto respawn once destroyed, similar most non heavy tanks. The time for this to happen is currently 7 minutes and 30 seconds.

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