Team17 and Expression Games Announce Collaboration with the Royal Armouries for Hell Let Loose: Vietnam
In 2026, Hell Let Loose: Vietnam brings a whole new theatre of war to the Hell Let Loose franchise. As with our World War II series entry, ensuring authenticity in the weaponry and equipment featured in this new conflict has been a core part of the design process.
To achieve this, Team17 and development partner Expression Games entered into a collaboration with the UK’s national collection of arms and armour; the Royal Armouries. It is an honour to work alongside such an esteemed organisation, home to one of the oldest and most extensive public collections of arms and armour in the world.
The collaboration began in July 2024, just a few months into the game’s development. Members of the Expression Games development team visited the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds to capture video, images, scans, and audio recordings of weapons from the museum’s extensive collection. This material is being used directly in Hell Let Loose: Vietnam to deliver the most accurate and immersive representation of the period’s weaponry.
“The Royal Armouries is delighted to support Expression Games and Team17 on this exciting new title. As one of the world’s leading museums of arms and armour, we are committed to sharing our collections and expertise with new audiences. This partnership allows us to bring an element of historical accuracy into the interactive entertainment space, offering players vivid in-game detail and fresh ways to engage with the stories and heritage that the Royal Armouries preserves.” – Jack Wanstall, Senior Licensing & Partnerships Manager, Royal Armouries
The Royal Armouries has served as the primary reference point for in-game recreations, supporting the team in achieving an unparalleled historical and technical accuracy across weapon visuals, animations, and audio.
"Working with the Royal Armouries and Jonathan Ferguson [Keeper of Firearms & Artillery] was a unique experience for our team. Their detailed knowledge and collection of historical weapons was invaluable in helping us achieve visual, animation and audio authenticity in Hell Let Loose: Vietnam." – Matt White, Creative Director at Expression Games
In-engine render of the M16A1 from Hell Let Loose: Vietnam
Photograph from Royal Armouries collection, used as reference for Hell Let Loose: Vietnam
This partnership underlines a shared commitment to authenticity, technical precision, and cultural storytelling, combining the expertise of Expression Games with the Royal Armouries’ world-class collection and knowledge.
Team17 and Expression Games would like to thank the Royal Armouries for their invaluable support throughout this project. We look forward to showcasing more of our work together in the coming months.
Hell Let Loose: Vietnam will launch in 2026, meanwhile players can experience the original World War II-based Hell Let Loose today. Update 18 arrives on all platforms on 7 October 2025, featuring a refreshed version of Stalingrad, armour updates, and more. Update 19 follows in November 2025, introducing the game’s largest ever urban map; Smolensk 1943.