Rising Storm 2: Vietnam

Lore & Background

Rising Storm 2: Vietnam pits up to 64 players against one another from either the South or the North in the Vietnam War conflict. Each faction features unique roles and abilities, making the game asymmetrical. Players can choose between the National Liberation Front (NLF/VC) and the North Vietnamese Army (PAVN/NVA), against the United States Army, the United States Marine Corps, the Australian Army, and the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN). For the first time in the franchise, players can take control of airborne vehicles, including attack, reconnaissance, and transport helicopters. Weapon and character customization also debut, including weapon and munition varieties as well as head, upper and lower body and skin customization.

The game launched with eight maps and three modes: Territories, Supremacy, and Skirmish. Territories is a standard two-round mode where the attacking team must capture all objectives before the round ends, while defenders hold out until lockdown. Supremacy is a new mode where teams capture objectives to earn points. Skirmish features smaller maps for eight versus eight teams, requiring players to seize all objectives and deplete enemy spawn tickets. Campaign mode, returning from Red Orchestra 2: Heroes of Stalingrad and Rising Storm, has teams battle through Territories matches to gain territory on a map of South Vietnam over an 11-year period.

Development was announced at E3 2015. The game introduces stealth, tunneling, and player-controlled military helicopters. Players earn cosmetics as they level up to customize their soldiers for each faction. An open beta ran from May 19 to May 22, 2017, before the official release on May 30, 2017.

Reader's Guide

Rising Storm 2: Vietnam received generally favorable reviews according to Metacritic. Its significance lies in continuing the tactical shooter legacy of the Red Orchestra and Rising Storm series, emphasizing realistic combat and large-scale teamwork. The game introduced asymmetrical factions with unique roles, as well as player-controlled helicopters and customization options for the first time in the franchise. The inclusion of Australian forces via downloadable content and the fan-made Talvisota: Winter War Mod expanded the game's content. A spiritual successor, '83, was announced in 2019 by a team that separated from Tripwire Interactive to form Antimatter Games, set in an alternative history World War III. Development of '83 was postponed in 2023 due to publisher issues, but EG7 later licensed the rights to Blue Dot Games, and the game entered a Closed Alpha Test in December 2023, releasing on Early Access in April 2026.

Did You Know?

• Rising Storm 2: Vietnam was announced at E3 2015.
• The game features player-controlled attack, reconnaissance, and transport helicopters for the first time in the franchise.
• The soundtrack includes the song 'Run Through the Jungle' by Creedence Clearwater Revival.
• A fan-made mod called Talvisota: Winter War Mod was released on Steam on April 2, 2020.