Well, I dropped the ball and Update 18 went live for Hell Let Loose sometime around the 7th of October. My how the time does fly!? In any case, Expression Games announced the release of an upcoming hotfix for HLL, Hotfix 1. Most likely to address some issues that were introduced with the Update 18 patch. You can take a peek at the official hotfix 1 changelog on their website, here.
There was a server side update that has already been released if I noted the message correctly at my quick glance.
On a somewhat bit of an off note, the last attempt we had a Hell Let Loose, I ended up having to turn the settings down a bit. My desktop (and laptop for that matter) are both running Fedora 42 KDE Plasma Desktop (Linux). In my previous experience with HLL, I didn’t have to make any tweaks to get the gaming running well, so I’m hopeful some of these updates might lessen the blow the next time our group does decide to give it another run.
Update 18 Hotfix 1
Hey everyone,
Thank you for taking the time to jump into Update 18 and share your feedback. We really appreciate your patience as we continue working to address the issues that have surfaced since launch.
Server-side Fix Now Live
Overnight, we deployed a server-side fix to address server crashing issues across all platforms.
So far, this appears to have gone well, and you should notice a reduction in server crashes. Please continue to share your feedback if you experience any further server issues so we can investigate and resolve them as quickly as possible.
If you are a server owner, your GSP should be able to move your server onto the new version.
Update 18 Hotfix 1 Coming Early Next Week
Hotfix 1 is scheduled to deploy early next week and includes several changes based on your reports. This update focuses on balance adjustments to Artillery Strikes and Tanks, along with fixes for a few bugs that appeared with U18.
You can find the full changelog below.
General Bug Fixes
- Enemy flares can be seen on the tac-map by the opposing team
- All Recon Tanks and Half-Truck wheels can not be repaired with a blowtorch
- Killed In Action screen shows an issue when killed by environmental fire
- Kubanka hat has incorrect ribbon model and colouring
- Panther tank has a very difficult time dealing with terrain variance
- Addressed reports of collision inconsistencies and reduced performance with the Panther. Adjustments have been made to the vehicle’s suspension behaviour and physics collision system to align its performance with its original specifications.
- Artillery Strike can trigger the “Rain Hell” achievement
- Artillery Strike ability can take out spawn points
- The commander artillery strike ability can no longer destroy garrisons
- Tank skin preview can be seen through geometry to all players
- The recoil on the Luchs is excessive, making it difficult to aim as an autocannon
- Following the implementation of the new tank knockback, the Luchs experienced excessive recoil due to its high rate of fire. Adjustments have been made to the recoil and knockback force to restore proper control during rapid fire.
Artillery Strike Balance Adjustments
- The commander artillery strike ability has had several balance changes:
- The strike zone radius has been slightly increased, making the shots less accurate
- The number of shells that fall has been decreased from 16 to 12
- The munition cost per placement has been increased to 125
- The cooldown time has been increased to 430seconds
- On top of this, the model used has been adjusted and the smoke trail removed.
Armor Tank Balance
- Following playtesting and community feedback, it was determined that tank handling was not performing as intended, particularly in higher gear ranges. The balance between applied braking and thrust during steering has been adjusted to deliver a smoother and more responsive experience.
- To continue the Armor update, all tanks have undergone suspension and physics collision updates. These adjustments aim to reduce issues with vehicles becoming immobilized on uneven terrain or smaller objects, particularly those located directly beneath the tank. This change is a part of an ongoing effort to enhance Armor and provide a more consistent driving experience for future updates.
Gameplay Balance
Following player feedback and testing, several gameplay balance refinements have been made:
- Blowtorch Repair Speed: Increased slightly, improving repair efficiency on all tank components
- Anti-Tank Launcher Damage: Increased from 325 to 380. This adjustment preserves the same number of required hits to destroy tanks while heightening the threat level to Armor units
- Anti-Tank Gun Damage: Increased from 350 to 400. This adjustment makes these weapons more potent against all tanks; particularly heavy tanks which can now be destroyed in fewer hits compared to the anti-tank launchers
We’re also aware of other issues reported by the community, including client-side crashes, and our team is actively investigating them. Please continue to share any problems you encounter with the support team at https://support.team17.com/hell-let-loose/en/
Thanks again for your feedback. Please stay tuned for more news on Hotfix 1 next week.
