For most PS5 players who want a tactical shooter they can buy and play today, Hell Let Loose is the safer choice. It is a released $49.99 game with established 50-vs-50 World War II battles, defined roles, large historical maps and documented PlayStation-to-Xbox console cross-play. Squad is the more interesting option for players who specifically want a modern military-simulation experience and are willing to use a free Alpha Preview while its full PS5 release date remains undetermined.
The short answer
These games overlap in player count and combined-arms ambition, but they are not interchangeable. Hell Let Loose gives you a finished World War II game built around officers, commanders, infantry roles, tanks, artillery and a resource-driven sector campaign. Squad aims at a more explicitly modern military-simulation style, emphasizing suppression, realistic optics, faction-specific weapons and vehicles, and deliberate maneuvering. On PS5, however, you are currently comparing a released product with a free Alpha Preview.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Hell Let Loose: Vietnam - PlayStation 5 | $39.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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METAL GEAR SOLID Δ: SNAKE EATER TACTICAL ED – PS5 | $37.49 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Hell Let Loose (PS5) | $44.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Hell Let Loose - PlayStation 5 | $49.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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| Question | Better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Which can I buy as a finished PS5 game? | Hell Let Loose | Released October 5, 2021; current US PlayStation Store price is $49.99. |
| Which lets me try a PS5 version for free? | Squad | The PS5 listing is a free Alpha Preview released October 16, 2026. |
| Which has a historical setting? | Hell Let Loose | World War II battlefields, vehicles and roles. |
| Which is designed as a modern military simulation? | Squad | Its description stresses combat realism, suppression, authentic warfare and realistic optics. |
| Which is the safer choice for Xbox friends? | Hell Let Loose | Team17 documents console cross-play between PlayStation and Xbox; console-to-PC cross-play is not supported. |
| Which has a confirmed final PS5 release date? | Neither answer applies to Squad | Hell Let Loose is already released; Squad‘s full PS5 release date is still to be determined. |
If your priority is certainty, community availability and a complete purchase, choose Hell Let Loose. If your priority is testing a newer modern-simulation design—and you accept preview software and an unsettled launch schedule—try Squad first.
Release status, price and online requirements
Hell Let Loose is the finished purchase
The US PlayStation Store lists the PS5 edition of Hell Let Loose at $49.99. The game released on October 5, 2021, supports up to 99 online players in its PS5 store metadata and is presented around 50-versus-50 battles. The listing says a PlayStation Plus subscription is required for online play.
#1 Best Overall
- Fight in epic 50 vs 50 multiplayer battles. Play as the North Vietnamese Army or the US Armed Forces.
- Immersive jungle warfare recreates the real-world intensity of the battle. 6 distinct game modes: Offensive, Warfare and 4 alternative new game modes.
- 6 large-scale maps – all with lighting and weather variants and extreme terrain. Emergent gameplay encourages the use of the chain of command to build teamwork and deploy a unique set of tactics and weapons for each battle.
- Multiple vehicles including helicopters and patrol boats. Build tunnels as the NVA and deploy your forces in stealth to ambush the US Armed Forces.
- Enhanced player movement improves in-battle functionality. Revamped tutorial and player onboarding. Updated interface and user experience.
That price and status describe the current US PlayStation Store listing checked in 2026. Retail prices, discounts and physical availability can change, so a disc buyer should verify the current retailer listing before ordering. The evidence available here does not establish a current physical-stock price.
Squad is a free Alpha Preview, not the final game
The PS5 listing for Squad describes a free Alpha Preview released on October 16, 2026. It supports up to 99 online players and is enhanced for PS5 Pro. A separate official concept page describes the intended full product as 100-player combined-arms warfare, but gives the full PS5 release date as to be determined.
That distinction matters. A free preview removes the purchase risk, but it also means features, stability, matchmaking population, presentation and platform support should not be treated as final. The official material does not state whether the preview requires PlayStation Plus for online play, so do not assume that its subscription requirement is identical to Hell Let Loose until the store page or final release terms say so.
| PS5 detail | Hell Let Loose | Squad |
|---|---|---|
| Current status | Released game | Alpha Preview |
| PS5 listing date | Released October 5, 2021 | Preview released October 16, 2026 |
| Current US store price | $49.99 | Free Alpha Preview |
| Online-player metadata | Up to 99 | Up to 99 |
| PS5 Pro | Not stated in the supplied listing details | Enhanced for PS5 Pro |
| PlayStation Plus requirement | Required for online play, according to the store listing | Not stated in the available official details |
| Final PS5 release date | Already released | To be determined |
Setting and battlefield feel
Hell Let Loose: historical World War II warfare
Hell Let Loose uses a World War II setting rather than an invented modern conflict. Its official description lists more than nine World War II battlefields and 14 playable roles. Large maps, period weapons, tanks and artillery create a battlefield that feels organized around fronts, objectives and supply rather than a sequence of small arena fights.
The setting changes how information is read. A location, attack route or defensive line has historical context, and the equipment is constrained by the era. Players who enjoy recognizable battlefields and a broad role roster get a clear identity from the start. The trade-off is that you are not choosing from contemporary optics, weapons or vehicles.
Squad: modern combined-arms simulation
Squad presents itself as a modern military-simulation experience. Its PS5 description emphasizes realistic faction-specific weapons and vehicles, authentic warfare, suppression and Picture-in-Picture scopes. The intended match structure is 50 versus 50, with infantry working alongside vehicles and aircraft rather than operating as isolated riflemen.
Rank #2
- The story, characters, voice acting, gameplay, and music that made the original a sensation return, remade for modern consoles
- This evolutionary leap breathes new life into every cutscene, and rebuilds every corner of the world
- Incredible new graphics bring the wild growth of the jungles, forests, and swamps to life in exquisite detail
- Characters are rendered in fine detail so that facial wrinkles, pores, & separate eye & iris movements are visible, allowing for rich animations
- Any injuries to his actual body will leave their mark permanently, telling a story of each player's unique journey
That realism is not simply a visual filter. Suppression can affect how confidently you move and aim; realistic optics change how you search for targets; and faction-specific equipment means that learning one side does not necessarily teach every other side. The result should appeal to players who want tactical movement and battlefield uncertainty more than a purely historical atmosphere.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors| Design axis | Hell Let Loose | Squad |
|---|---|---|
| Era | World War II | Modern military setting |
| Battle scale | 50 vs 50; up to 99 online players in store metadata | 50 vs 50 in the preview; up to 99 online players in store metadata |
| Combined arms | Infantry, tanks and artillery | Infantry, vehicles and modern combined-arms tactics |
| Distinctive systems named by the official descriptions | Sector capture, resources, reinforcement, vehicles and support | Suppression, Picture-in-Picture scopes, pilot and infantry training |
How teamwork and communication work
Hell Let Loose builds teamwork into the command structure
The game divides responsibility among ordinary soldiers, specialized roles, officers and a Commander. Officers and the Commander coordinate attacks and defenses while squads contest sectors. Resources influence reinforcements, vehicles and support, so capturing ground is not merely a matter of standing inside a zone; it affects what the team can deploy next.
Communication is not optional flavor text. The official PlayStation description says, If you’re not talking to your squad, you’re missing half the game.
It also states that players work together under officers and their Commander to take strategic targets and dominate the opposition. In practice, a quiet player can still shoot enemies, but the game’s strongest information—enemy locations, planned pushes, defensive gaps and artillery timing—comes through squad and command communication.
- Choose a role that supports the squad’s immediate need instead of duplicating a popular class.
- Listen for officer or Commander instructions before leaving an objective.
- Report enemy positions and movement clearly, using landmarks and direction.
- Expect the frontline to shift when sectors and resources change.
Squad emphasizes realistic coordination and tactical movement
The official preview description says that Squad emphasizes combat realism through teamwork, tactics and authentic warfare. Its stated goal is to work with your squad to overwhelm enemies and win through coordinated action. Suppression and realistic optics make communication valuable because a teammate’s warning can matter more than a quick visual reaction.
The difference is emphasis rather than a simple presence-or-absence of teamwork. Hell Let Loose gives communication a visible hierarchy through officers, a Commander and sector resources. Squad foregrounds the simulation mechanics that make movement, positioning, suppression and combined-arms timing consequential. Players who enjoy planning a maneuver and managing uncertainty may prefer Squad; players who want a clearly signposted chain of battlefield objectives may find Hell Let Loose easier to understand.
Modes, training and onboarding on PS5
Hell Let Loose teaches through role-based battles
Hell Let Loose’s onboarding is embedded in its battlefield structure. You learn by selecting one of 14 roles, joining a squad, following its officer and participating in the sector-capture campaign. The role roster gives you multiple ways to contribute, while the large maps and command layers teach why a local firefight matters to the wider front.
Rank #3
- Fight in epic 50 vs 50 multiplayer battles.
- 9 maps with more added frequently - land at Omaha Beach, fight through Carentan and into the frozen forests of Foy before climbing Hill 400.
- Never fight the same battle twice - 99 capture point variations per map, means thousands of potential battles.
- Play and master one or many of 14 unique roles, including: Officer, Medic, Machinegunner, Commander, Crewman, Sniper and more.
- Constantly updated with new maps, weapons, features and fixes.
This approach can feel demanding during a first match. You may need to learn the map, understand the current sector, identify who has authority to place or request support and decide whether the squad needs another rifleman, a specialist or a defensive player. The benefit is that each match exposes you to the game’s real decision-making rather than isolating every mechanic in a tutorial.
Squad’s preview includes dedicated practice spaces
The PS5 Alpha Preview explicitly includes Infantry Training, Pilot Training and a consequence-free practice environment. It also includes an Invasion Mode skirmish on Gorodok. These options give a new player a way to learn movement, vehicles, aircraft and infantry systems without immediately placing every mistake into a live match.
That is a meaningful advantage for players who are curious about simulation mechanics but wary of being the least experienced person in a full server. Pilot Training is especially relevant because aircraft introduce controls and responsibilities that are difficult to learn while a team is trying to win. Since this is an Alpha Preview, treat the available modes as the features documented for this build, not a promise that the final launch will have an identical structure.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →| Onboarding question | Hell Let Loose | Squad Alpha Preview |
|---|---|---|
| Dedicated infantry training named in the listing | Not stated | Yes |
| Dedicated pilot training named in the listing | Not stated | Yes |
| Consequence-free practice environment | Not stated | Yes |
| Documented skirmish mode | Sector-capture battlefield structure | Invasion Mode on Gorodok |
| Role learning | 14 playable roles | Infantry and pilot systems are specifically named; a comparable final role count is not stated |
Cross-play and playing with friends
Hell Let Loose has the clearer console answer
Team17 confirms console cross-play for Hell Let Loose. PlayStation and Xbox players can play together, which makes it the safer recommendation for a mixed-console group. Team17 also states that console-to-PC cross-play is not supported. Therefore, an Xbox friend is within the documented console-cross-play group; a PC friend is not.
Squad’s broader promise is not yet specific enough
The official Squad concept page advertises cross-platform multiplayer alongside 100-player combined-arms warfare, but it does not specify every supported cross-play platform. Because the PS5 product is still an Alpha Preview and the final release date is undetermined, treat that language as provisional. Do not buy or organize a cross-platform group around PC compatibility until the final PS5 documentation identifies the supported platforms.
| Friend-group situation | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Everyone plays on PS5 | Either game can fit; choose based on setting, systems and release certainty. |
| PS5 and Xbox players | Hell Let Loose; console cross-play is documented. |
| PS5 and PC players | No confirmed choice from the available evidence. Hell Let Loose does not support console-to-PC cross-play, while Squad’s platform details remain unspecified. |
| A group that needs a stable, established product | Hell Let Loose. |
Which game is more tactical?
“Tactical” describes different things in these two games. Hell Let Loose is tactical through structure: a role roster, squad leadership, Commander decisions, sector control and resources that affect reinforcements, vehicles and support. The key question is often where the team should concentrate and how to hold or take the next sector.
Rank #4
- Fight in epic 50 vs 50 multiplayer battles.
- Two distinct gamemodes - Offensive and Warfare
- 9 maps with more added frequently - land at Omaha Beach, fight through Carentan and into the frozen forests of Foy before climbing Hill 400.
- Never fight the same battle twice - 99 capture point variations per map, means thousands of potential battles.
- Play and master one or many of 14 unique roles, including: Officer, Medic, Machinegunner, Commander, Crewman, Sniper and more.
Squad is tactical through simulation behavior: suppression, realistic optics, faction-specific equipment and combined-arms maneuvering. The key question is often how to move, observe, communicate and coordinate without exposing the squad to a superior position or supporting fire.
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- Choose Hell Let Loose if you want tactics expressed through a clear objective-and-command framework.
- Choose Squad if you want tactics expressed through realistic weapon behavior, suppression, optics and modern maneuver.
- Do not choose solely on the number “50 versus 50”; both games use that headline scale, but their moment-to-moment decisions are different.
Performance and PS5 image quality: what is and is not established
The available official material does not provide a comparable PS5 frame-rate, resolution or image-quality benchmark for the two games. There is therefore no evidence-based performance winner to declare. Squad is identified as enhanced for PS5 Pro, but that label alone does not establish a frame rate or resolution advantage over Hell Let Loose.
If performance is your deciding factor, compare the current store descriptions and your own console experience rather than relying on an unverified numerical claim. A preview build can also change before final release, so an Alpha result should not be treated as a launch specification.
Decision guide: pick the game that matches your priorities
Choose Hell Let Loose when these statements describe you
- You want a released PS5 game rather than an unfinished preview.
- You prefer World War II history, recognizable battlefields and period equipment.
- You want a broad, documented roster of 14 roles.
- You enjoy a command structure with officers and a Commander.
- You want sector capture and resources to shape reinforcements, vehicles and support.
- You play with Xbox friends and need documented console cross-play.
- You are comfortable paying the current US store price of $49.99 and maintaining PlayStation Plus for online play.
Choose Squad when these statements describe you
- You want to try a modern military-simulation design.
- You are interested in suppression, realistic faction-specific weapons and vehicles, and Picture-in-Picture scopes.
- You want dedicated Infantry Training and Pilot Training before joining a live battle.
- You value a consequence-free practice environment.
- You want to test an Invasion Mode skirmish on Gorodok.
- You accept that the PS5 product is an Alpha Preview and that the final release date is undetermined.
- You are willing to verify cross-play details later rather than assuming that every platform is supported.
If you are undecided, use the lowest-risk route
- Start with the free Squad Alpha Preview if the modern-simulation concept appeals to you.
- Use Infantry Training, Pilot Training and the practice environment before judging the live match experience.
- If the preview’s unfinished status or uncertain cross-play is a problem, choose the released Hell Let Loose instead.
- For a mixed PS5-and-Xbox group, prioritize Hell Let Loose because its console cross-play support is documented.
- For a group that includes PC players, wait for explicit platform documentation; neither game’s currently established information gives you a confirmed console-to-PC solution.
Bottom line
Hell Let Loose is better for most PS5 buyers because it is available as a complete $49.99 game, has a proven World War II identity, 50-vs-50 battles, 14 roles, a command-and-resource structure and documented PlayStation/Xbox console cross-play. Its requirement for PlayStation Plus online play is clearly stated.
Squad is the better personal fit for a narrower audience: players who specifically want modern military simulation, suppression, realistic optics, pilot and infantry training, and a free way to experiment. Its Alpha Preview status, unspecified final release date and incomplete cross-play detail are not minor footnotes; they define the purchase decision on PS5.
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