Delta Force Season Break release date and what the game-changing update has in store

The upcoming season of Delta Force is nearly upon us, and it's bringing with it new mechanics and enhancements to the Victory Unite mode, as well as a fresh Operator, maps, and additions to weapons and vehicles.

Delta Force Season Break (Season 4) is rapidly approaching and is set to be the most substantial update since the game's PC launch last December. Alongside new maps for Operations and Warfare, and a brand-new Operator, Team Jade is introducing a novel mechanic: swimming and diving, allowing players to explore underwater.

A jailbreak is on the cards for the Operations map, Tide Prison, which was previewed in the developer livestream – and the nod to Shawshank didn't go unnoticed. Players will start with no gear or weapons and will have to scavenge what they need during the mission, while undercover as a prisoner.

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The map is set on an island prison, making it the ideal time to introduce swimming and diving mechanics; something the developer has been keen to implement for some time. While there won't be a solo mode at launch, it could be added later if players take to the map.

Team Jade is keeping schtum on the details of the new Warfare map Cyclone, which is linked closely to this season's gripping storyline. The studio hasn't spilled too much about the plot, but a brief summary suggests that Cyclone picks up right after the prison operation, with a promise of intense action over land, sea, and air – think more wild swimming and diving antics.

Staying on-brand with the water-based adventures, Jet Skis are the latest mode of transport to zip through the waves. But wait, there's more! The Cyclone sneak peek debuted dynamic weather; expect battles to heat up amidst the "gushing winds and torrential rain".

Over in the world of mobile Warfare, Team Jade is all about speedy matches, finally giving players the swift gameplay they're craving.

Jets won't make an appearance in the Delta Force Season Break update, but the studio hinted that these would grace the game in the season "after Season Break", which likely means gear up for them in Season 5. If you're eager to get every juicy detail, you can catch the Delta Force Season Break livestream on the .

So mark your calendars, as here's what's in store when Delta Force Season Break kicks off.

Delta Force Season Break release date

Delta Force Season Break releases Wednesday, 9 July, as confirmed by the . We're estimating a start time of around 2am UTC, which aligns with when most of the game's major updates have been released (via SteamDB). Here's how that translates to your local time:

Tuesday, July 8

• 7pm Pacific Daylight Time
• 9pm Central Daylight Time
• 10pm Eastern Daylight Time
• 11pm Brasilia Time

Wednesday, July 9

• 2am UTC
• 3am British Summer Time
• 3am Central European Summer Time
• 4am Eastern European Time
• 5am Saudi Arabia Standard Time
• 10am Australian Western Standard Time
• 10am Singapore Standard Time
• 11am JST
• 11.30am ACST
• 12pm AEST

We'll update the above if Team Jade provides exact timings. As for what's new when Delta Force Season Break begins, here's a brief rundown, with more details below:

New Operations Map: Tide Prison

New Warfare Map: Cyclone

New Operator: Tempest

New weapons and vehicles, including an assault rifle, a compound bow, jet skis and more.

Victory Unite improvements, including a real-time command hub and a new call-in support to reduce respawn time

Delta Force X Arknights Crossover

New Operations Map: Tide Prison

A secret high-tech island prison run by the Haavk, players must infiltrate disguised as prisoners and collect their gear during the mission, solving puzzles solo or with their squad. Swimming and diving have also been introduced, together with underwater exploration.

New Warfare Map: Cyclone

A tropical island with a hidden ICBM missile site, the Cyclone is a grand map offering satisfying infantry and vehicle combat, and introduces a dynamic weather system which affects gameplay immersion and strategy.

New Operator: Tempest

Free with Battle Pass, Tempest comes with enhanced mobility via an exoskeletal device, emergency evasion devices, and a charged drill that disarms enemies, making her an ideal choice for close range combat and deadlocks.

The start of Delta Force Season Break coincides with the game's console release, meaning PS5 and Xbox gamers will also be entering the action. Additionally, the Black Hawk Down single-player campaign will be accessible as free DLC, which isn't a massive shock as it was a freebie for PC players too.