Hell Let Loose: Vietnam Release Time: One Global Unlock at 12 p.m. ET on PC, PS5 and Xbox
The Hell Let Loose: Vietnam release time is a single simultaneous unlock rather than a rolling midnight-by-region rollout: the 50v50 shooter goes live worldwide at 9 a.m. PT / 12 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. UTC on 13 August 2026. It launches the same day on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and Series S, with crossplay switched on between all three from the start.
Developed by Expression Games and published by Team17, it is a standalone game rather than an expansion to the original Second World War title, so owning that one gets you nothing here beyond familiarity with how squads work.
When is the Hell Let Loose: Vietnam release time where you are?
Because the servers open at one fixed moment, players in Asia and Oceania cross into 14 August before they can play. The unlock lands at:
- 9 a.m. PT and 12 p.m. ET — Thursday 13 August
- 4 p.m. UTC and 5 p.m. CET — Thursday 13 August
- 9:30 p.m. IST — Thursday 13 August
- 1 a.m. JST and 2 a.m. AEST — Friday 14 August
Pre-loading is available on console ahead of that window, so the download can finish overnight and the game becomes playable the moment the servers flip over. Anyone who has waited through a staggered launch — the approach taken for Madden NFL 27's launch-day unlock earlier today — will find this one simpler to plan around.
Which platforms and storefronts get it
On PC the game is sold through Steam, the Epic Games Store and the Microsoft Store. On console it is a current-generation release only: PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, with no PS4 or Xbox One version. Crossplay covers PC, PS5 and Xbox together, which matters a great deal for a game that needs 100 people to fill a single match.
Two editions are on sale. Published store listings put the standard edition at $39.99 and the deluxe at $59.99, and Steam is running a 10% launch discount on both. The deluxe adds cosmetic content including an NVA Boat Crew Uniform, while pre-orders came with a US Boat Crew Uniform. Prices differ by region and storefront, so check your own store page rather than converting the dollar figure.
How big is the download, and what will it run on?
Steam's listing asks for 30 GB of storage on PC. Console players are advised in published reports to keep roughly 40 GB free to be safe, which is normal headroom for install and patch overhead rather than a confirmed final size from Team17.
The published PC requirements are moderate for a 2026 release. The minimum spec targets 1080p at 60 fps on Windows 10 64-bit with an Intel Core i5-10600K or Ryzen 5 3600X, 16 GB of RAM and an RTX 2060 Super or RX 6600 XT. The recommended spec moves to Windows 11, an i5-12600K or Ryzen 5 7600X, and an RTX 3060 Ti or RX 6900 XT — still aimed at 1080p60, just at higher settings.
What you actually play
Teams pick the North Vietnamese Army or the US Armed Forces and fight across six large maps built on real Vietnam locations. Warfare is the tug-of-war mode, with two teams contesting five sectors; Offensive splits the sides into one attacking and one defending force.
Roles are grouped into command, infantry, recon, armour, mortar and helicopter crews, and the chain of command still runs from commander down through squad leaders. The helicopter roles — logistics officer and pilot — are exclusive to the US side, while tunnel building belongs to the NVA, which is the sharpest asymmetry the game has ever shipped with. Patrol boats, swimming, climbing and dragging wounded teammates are all new to the series here.
Is it worth jumping in on day one?
Large-scale shooters live and die by population, and a simultaneous global unlock with crossplay is the best possible start for filling 100-player servers. The risk on launch day is the usual one: queue times and server stability while everyone arrives at once.
If you would rather wait out the first evening, there is plenty else running this month — the Helldivers 2 Warhammer 40,000 warbond arrived on 12 August, and on PC our tested Minecraft shader picks for high frame rates are a lighter load on the same hardware. Playing on a phone instead? Our list of Android games with full gamepad support works with the same controller sitting next to your console.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does Hell Let Loose: Vietnam unlock?
It unlocks worldwide at the same moment: 9 a.m. PT, 12 p.m. ET, 4 p.m. UTC and 5 p.m. CET on 13 August 2026. That works out to 9:30 p.m. IST the same day, and 1 a.m. JST or 2 a.m. AEST on 14 August. There is no separate regional midnight release.
Which platforms is Hell Let Loose: Vietnam on?
PC via Steam, the Epic Games Store and the Microsoft Store, plus PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and Series S. There is no PS4 or Xbox One version. Crossplay is enabled between PC, PS5 and Xbox at launch.
How big is the Hell Let Loose: Vietnam download?
Steam's store listing asks for 30 GB of storage space on PC. Console players are advised to keep around 40 GB free to cover the install plus patch overhead, though Team17 has not published a final per-platform install size.
Do I need the original Hell Let Loose to play it?
No. Hell Let Loose: Vietnam is a standalone game with its own store listing and price, not an expansion. Owning the original Second World War title gives you no discount or access, only a head start on understanding how squads and the chain of command work.
How much does Hell Let Loose: Vietnam cost?
Published store listings put the standard edition at $39.99 and the deluxe edition at $59.99, with a 10% launch discount running on Steam. The deluxe edition adds cosmetic items including an NVA Boat Crew Uniform. Regional pricing varies, so check your own storefront.
