Hell Let Loose: Vietnam Update 1.5 Brings the Huey, New Rifles and Battlefield Radio Music

Hell Let Loose: Vietnam Update 1.5 is now available, delivering the first major update for the large-scale multiplayer shooter since its launch. The update's headline addition is the Bell UH-1 Iroquois, better known as the Huey, accompanied by two new requested firearms and a radio feature designed to bring era-appropriate music into the middle of a match.

Developed by Expression Games and published by Team17, Hell Let Loose: Vietnam is available on PC through Steam, Epic Games Store and the Windows Store, as well as PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The new update arrives as part of the team's stated plan for continuing weekly updates, wider ongoing support and additional improvements informed by community feedback.

The Huey arrives in Update 1.5

The Bell UH-1 Iroquois is the centrepiece of Update 1.5. The helicopter, commonly referred to as the Huey, is one of the most recognizable aircraft associated with the Vietnam War, and its addition gives the game a major new piece of period military hardware.

The development team says the in-game Huey has been built with highly accurate detailing and decals. Beyond its visual presence, it includes an onboard radio system that is directly tied to another notable part of the update: music that can be played from the helicopter while it is in use.

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In a game built around broad battlefields, coordination and the pressure of combined-arms warfare, a helicopter naturally has the potential to become a focal point for players nearby. Update 1.5's radio feature leans into that role. Music heard in the Huey is not restricted solely to passengers: it can also be broadcast to players near the vehicle as it moves across the battlefield.

That means the new aircraft is intended to have an audiovisual identity beyond transport or combat utility. Players inside can hear the radio directly, while soldiers on the ground may hear it passing overhead or approaching from nearby. It is a small but distinctive environmental touch that can make the Huey's arrival immediately recognizable during an active match.

Two community-requested weapons join the fight

Update 1.5 also expands the available arsenal with two rifles requested by players. US Forces receive the M14, while the NVA gains the Type 56 SKS.

For another perspective on this story, read Hell Let Loose: Vietnam Update 1.5 Adds Huey Helicopter, M14, SKS and Radio Music.

The M14 gives the US side another historically grounded weapon option. Its arrival is particularly notable because it fills out the American equipment selection with a rifle strongly tied to the setting's military era. How players incorporate it into established loadouts and squad approaches will depend on the weapon's handling in the live game, but its addition broadens the choices available to the faction.

On the NVA side, the Type 56 SKS joins the roster. The Type 56 designation is associated with Chinese-produced weapons, and the SKS pattern is an appropriate fit for a conflict-era shooter seeking to represent the equipment used by opposing forces. Paired with the M14, the new rifle gives Update 1.5 a symmetrical weapons addition: one new option for each side.

Neither weapon is merely a cosmetic inclusion. In a multiplayer shooter where positioning, sightlines and squad composition matter, an extra rifle can create new preferences for players who favor a particular engagement range or firing feel. The most important result may be increased variety, especially for regular players who have spent considerable time with the game's existing weapon sets.

Music becomes part of the battlefield atmosphere

The update's music feature is closely connected to the Huey's radio. Era-appropriate tracks can be accessed through the helicopter's onboard radio, letting crews play them inside the vehicle and project that audio to the surrounding area.

This is a deliberately atmospheric addition rather than a separate menu feature. The music is attached to the helicopter's presence, so it becomes part of the match's unfolding action. A Huey flying low near friendly troops, lifting off from a contested area or passing across open ground can bring the radio sound with it.

For nearby players, that may create memorable moments in the chaos of a multiplayer battle. The feature also reinforces the Huey's cultural and historical association with the Vietnam setting without changing the game's core focus on team-based combat.

Update 1.5 combines a major vehicle addition with new faction weapons and an audio feature that can be experienced both inside the helicopter and by players around it.

There is an important distinction in how the radio operates: the music is not described as a global soundtrack that every participant hears at once. It is heard within the Huey and broadcast to nearby players as the aircraft travels. Its effect is therefore local and contextual, tied to where the vehicle is on the map and who is close enough to it.

A first major update after launch

Calling Update 1.5 the first major update since launch signals a meaningful step in the game's early post-release development. Rather than concentrating on a single category of content, the patch spreads its additions across vehicles, weapons and atmosphere.

The Huey provides the most immediately visible change, the M14 and Type 56 SKS offer new infantry options, and the radio music creates a feature that affects the sensory character of a match. Together, those elements make the update feel focused on strengthening the Vietnam identity of the game while giving players more ways to engage with its battlefield systems.

The team has also reiterated its commitment to listening to player feedback. The mention of the M14 and Type 56 SKS as requested weapons underlines that relationship, suggesting that community interest has played a role in shaping the update's priorities.

Ongoing weekly updates are planned, alongside broader support and future improvements discussed through the community development blog. No specific details on the next additions have been announced here, but the commitment establishes that Update 1.5 is part of continuing work rather than a one-off content drop.

What Update 1.5 adds

• Bell UH-1 Iroquois "Huey": A new helicopter with detailed visual work, decals and an onboard radio.
• M14: A new rifle for US Forces.
• Type 56 SKS: A new rifle for the NVA.
• In-game radio music: Era-appropriate music playable through Huey radios.
• Local music broadcast: Audio can be heard by players inside the helicopter and by nearby players as it flies over the battlefield.

Available now on PC and current consoles

Hell Let Loose: Vietnam and its Update 1.5 are available now on PC via Steam, Epic Games Store and the Windows Store. The game is also available for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

For players returning after launch, the Huey is likely to be the update's immediate draw: it is a landmark vehicle for the setting and now carries a radio system that can turn every flight into a more distinctive event. For infantry-focused players, the M14 and Type 56 SKS provide fresh reasons to revisit faction loadouts and test the new rifles in live battles.

With further weekly updates and planned support still ahead, Update 1.5 establishes a clear direction for the game's post-launch development: add equipment players have asked for, enhance the historical atmosphere, and continue refining the experience with community feedback in mind.