Hey everyone, Welcome to Developer Briefing #16! This week we’re happy to share the news that the next Hell Let Loose closed beta is arriving in April. Details below: [h1]Dates[/h1] [b]Start date[/b]: April 5th [b]End date[/b]: April 8th [h1]Participants[/h1] [list] [*][b]Existing players[/b]: Crowdfund backers who had access to the previous betas. [*][b]New players[/b]: Recruit tier backers will now be given access to closed betas (watch those inboxes!). [*][b]?????[/b]: News on participation for those outside of the crowdfund community coming soon. [/list] [h1][b]The April Beta Preview[/b][/h1] For the first time in a closed beta, players will have access to two maps to fight on, Hurtgen Forest and Sainte-Marie-du-Mont. That’s right, Sainte-Marie-du-Mont is back after its first outing in last years Alpha. Revamped, improved and ready for action, players will be fighting through fields, trenches, hedgerows and the town itself as they battle sector by sector to secure strongpoints in both rural and urban environments. To prepare you for the impending battle, we’ve gathered some reconnaissance shots from the front: [img]https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/34012997/ecf787d2033eec68093d725300bcc70e2c3936a6.jpg[/img] [i]Every building in Sainte-Marie-du-Mont can be entered, garrisoned and fought for.[/i] [img]https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/34012997/a0a46e4a51dc0f651d6ea60eb595e53c7c1d0c1a.jpg[/img] The buildings aren’t just empty husks, they are lived in, damaged or even abandoned mid-breakfast. Each house interior tells a story. [img]https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/34012997/4f0770c7f41df139f2bf1b7360141f07b8e6b5aa.jpg[/img] Expect fierce fighting in chokepoints such as roads and alleyways. [img]https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/34012997/a94853c1861875d7743247624d46f7da965ac89e.jpg[/img] Small farm buildings can be the perfect place for a Machine Gunner, or even a sneaky spawn point! [img]https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/34012997/7df3a160bb5c7a52d08e27fa586b35754660b433.jpg[/img] Gardens with short walls can be the perfect place for an ambush, if you’re brave enough. [img]https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/34012997/4ac88896ce2a6ac96c751481da82a11697e5e40f.jpg[/img] The sweeping fields provide a stark contrast to the close quarter battles of the town. [img]https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/34012997/edb477be45473e7bb53c5b24537100197dbe6352.jpg[/img] This house may appear abandoned,but watch out for traps and soldiers laying low! [h1]What else has changed?[/h1] [list] [*]VOiP enabled on death and in redeployment screens [*]Text chat enabled on redeployment and round end screens [*]New map screen maps [*]Default gamma and mouse sensitivities fixed [*]Nameplate visibility settings for users [*]Ongoing UI improvements [*]Ongoing sound improvements across the board [*]Ongoing optimisation [*]Fix for tank bouncing and desync. [*]Fix for tank collision when making contact with an object. [*]Fix for gunners sight becoming unaligned in tanks [*]Improvements to TPP animation [*]New character models [*]New FPP and TPP animations [*]Bombing run optimisation & fixes [*]Bug fixes [*]And more! [/list] [h1]Beta Battle Ready[/h1] We hope this advanced look at the next closed beta has got you excited for your return, or first visit to Sainte-Marie-du-Mont and Hurtgen Forest. The team have been working hard since the last beta and we’re all looking forward to joining you on the frontline and hearing your feedback. Next week we’ll be providing some more information regarding the closed beta and more! Watch this space… Hell Let Loose is available to Wishlist now: https://store.steampowered.com/app/686810/Hell_Let_Loose/ Follow Hell Let Loose on [url=https://twitter.com/hell_let_loose]Twitter[/url] Like Hell Let Loose on [url=https://steamcommunity.com/linkfilter/?url=https://www.facebook.com/HellLetLoose/]Facebook[/url]