Hello all,
First off, we want to thank everyone who has stuck with us through Update 18. We understand how frustrating the latest update has been, and we’re committed to making sure something like this doesn’t happen again.
With that in mind, we’re looking ahead to upcoming content and would love to get you, the community, more involved in the direction we’re heading.
This dev brief includes:
Update on connectivity issues and disconnecting issues
Information on this week’s community playtest
What is Smolensk?
First up however, we have seen your comments on connectivity issues in game, and wanted to address them head-on.
Over the weekend, one of our major server providers, Qonzer, confirmed that a large-scale 29.1TB/s DDoS attack has affected one of it's core protection networks. Although only 15-20% of clients were affected some of those have been Hell Let Loose servers. The attack, which for Qonzer / NEOProtect reached 29.1 terabits powered by the Aisuru Botnet, has caused widespread disruption across multiple large platforms with the majority being gaming related.
Recently attacks, which 1 year ago would reach between 10-30GB/s, are now unleashing anywhere between 100-1000GB/s and in some cases even higher.
While we know parts of this botnet and others like it are able to be rented in a pay-to-DDoS platform, they seem to be pointed towards some of the top listed HLL servers after they've been seeded. This is not an issue within Team17 or the game itself, but a result of server providers coming under attack.
We’re working closely with Qonzer as they investigate and implement their new protections with partners NEOProtect. Their upcoming statement, expected tomorrow, will outline further details, including a move to new server IP addresses to help stabilise performance.
From our side, Team17 is exploring ways to adjust the in-game favouriting system so that it isn’t tied to specific IP addresses as well as offering support to the server providers where we can.
We’ll share more information tomorrow. Thank you for your patience and continued support while we work alongside our partners and cyber-security experts to restore stability.
We also wanted to share that Hotfix 3 will be dropping very soon, fixing a number of client-side issues affecting players. More information to follow soon.
Now, time to enter the Battle for Smolensk.
This Friday, we’ll be holding our first Public Testing Environment (PTE) for our next map.
We heard your feedback after Update 18, and going forward, we’ll be working more closely with the community before updates go live: whether it’s for new maps, vehicles, or major gameplay changes.
This starts with our first PTE for the brand-new Smolensk map. As before, this will be a Steam-only event and will require you to download the Hell Let Loose (Public Testing) application.
During this test, we’ll have several servers open, including dedicated servers for competitive, clan, and community-led matches.
If you’re part of a clan and would like to get involved, please reach out to your server owner or contact our Community Manager, Ben B.
Smolensk is one of our most ambitious maps yet. With a focus on urban, multi-story combat, this city-heavy battlefield is the largest urban map in the game so far. It features three distinct regions, industrial, urban, and riverside, each offering new tactical challenges and gameplay opportunities.
During the PTE, please report any issues you encounter, such as invisible walls, bugged debris, or other map-related problems.
Next up, we’re introducing Self-Propelled Artillery (SPAs), the newest addition to the battlefield.
These vehicles are part of our ongoing artillery rework and are expected to bring major gameplay changes. Because of this, we’ll be looking for as much community feedback as possible—both positive and negative.
Your feedback on these systems will be vital for the development team moving forward.
The PTE will be going live on Friday 7th November. During the course of the PTE, a number of our incredible communities will be joining the server for games to ensure that we have full lobbies.
These include (but aren’t limited to) communities such as Glow’s Battlegrounds hosting some community games, DraftHaus, PF and For Tea & Country joining the action, and a number of competitive matches will be getting played including some hard fought FNF games!
If you are wanting to get involved, be sure to speak to your server owner, or community lead to see whether they have any activities planned for the PTE.
For those who haven’t had a chance to read our Smolensk announcement blog, here’s a brief overview of our next map.
Smolensk will be the newest addition to the battle on the Eastern Front, created in direct response to community requests for more urban Eastern Front battlefields. Set on the banks of the Dnieper River in the summer of 1943, this version of Smolensk captures a pivotal moment in the Suvorov Operation, when Soviet forces launched a major offensive to retake the city from German control after losing it in 1941 during the early stages of Operation Barbarossa.
This new map will also be Hell Let Loose’s largest urban battlefield to date, featuring unique design elements that reshape how engagements unfold. Expect a scale and intensity unlike anything we’ve released before.
As you fight for control of the city, you’ll notice how the train tracks and the Dnieper River both cut vertically through the map rather than across it, creating new lanes of movement and forcing teams to think carefully about positioning and flanking. Meanwhile, the addition of three-story buildings, fortified walls, and an overpass brings vertical combat to the forefront. Players will need to look up as often as they look ahead, with enemies able to take positions in ways never before seen in Hell Let Loose.
For a deeper dive into the map’s development and features, head over to Dev Brief #208 to learn more about what awaits you when you enter Smolensk this Friday.
