Action/Strategy

The update brings new water visual effects and dozens of new military vehicles

Gaijin Entertainment is pleased to announce that the new Ninth Wave Major Update for the online military action game War Thunder is now available for players. In addition to rank IX aviation and domestic Hungarian aircraft, it brings completely redesigned water physics and visual effects in naval battles! Iconic new vehicles include the Chinese J-15T fighter jet, the Italian Centauro II tank destroyer, the Russian Pantsir-SM-SV air defense system, and the French aircraft carrier Foch.

Watch the official ‘Ninth Wave’ Update Trailer HERE.

With the Ninth Wave update, naval battles have become even more epic. Subsurface scattering has been implemented for water, which calculates the distribution of light as it interacts with objects beneath the surface, creating a sense of interior volume within the body of water. Reflections on the water surface at different viewing angles are now more accurately rendered, and sea foam rendering is now based on swirl physics and wave resonance. The interaction between objects and water has also been improved, making bomb explosions and torpedo movements even more realistic.

The Chinese J-15T multirole carrier-based combat aircraft is externally reminiscent of the Russian Su-33, which served as the basis for the 15 series jets. Its internal components are completely different however – ​​for example, it features an advanced active phased array radar and Chinese WS-10B engines with an afterburning thrust of nearly 14,000 kgf each. The pilot can carry a large arsenal of unguided and guided weapons, including anti-ship missiles, on 12 hardpoints.

The Centauro II is an Italian wheeled tank destroyer, the prototype of which was unveiled in 2016. Unlike the first Centauro, the new model features the HITFACT Mk II turret, in which the automatic loader and ammunition stowage are located behind an armored bulkhead and separated from the crew, significantly increasing survivability. The arsenal includes the effective DM53 round with a penetration of over 620 mm, capable of combating even the most advanced armored vehicles. Furthermore, the Centauro II has a more powerful 720 horsepower engine, which quickly accelerates the vehicle to speeds in excess of 100 km/h.

The Pantsir-SM-SV is a modernized Russian anti-aircraft artillery system built on a mobile tracked chassis, and equipped with an improved radar with increased detection range and two new types of ammunition. The long-range 95Ya6M missiles fly up to 40 km at a speed of 1,700 meters per second. Their warhead deploys several dozen meters from the target, showering it with shrapnel. The new small TKB-1055 missiles are designed to engage multiple small targets at close range, such as UAVs, incoming munitions, and light helicopters. More information about the update is available on the official War Thunder website.

In this business, you either rise… or you get rolled over

World of Tanks is rolling out the red carpet for a very respectable family from the fine city of Lost Heaven. From March 19 through March 29, Commanders are invited to do business the old-fashioned way—through loyalty, ambition, and overwhelming firepower.

This is Battle Pass Special: Mafia, inspired by 2K’s original entry into its legendary underworld franchise. As players progress through the event, they will be able to recruit iconic characters from Mafia: Definitive Edition as vehicle commanders, unlock themed decals, inscriptions, 3D attachments and 2D styles based on the game’s most memorable moments, and much more.

Any operation needs muscle. Meet the Predatore, a Tier IX Italian medium tank that will really “send the message”. Following in the proud tradition of other Italian mediums, it has an accurate auto reloading gun alongside excellent mobility. Its exceptional top speed lets the vehicle deliver its firepower to anywhere on the battlefield.

Every smart boss surrounds himself with a capable team. During Battle Pass Special: Mafia, Commanders can recruit a crew that knows how to handle delicate situations.

• Tommy Angelo – once a taxi driver on the streets of Lost Heaven, is now a rising mob figure who won his respect the hard way.
• Paulie Lombardo – a sharp-tongued wisecracker who keeps spirits high and fists ready.
• Sam Trapani – delivers quiet efficiency and unwavering loyalty, the kind of enforcer any Don trusts without question.
• Frank Colletti – acts as the steady consigliere, guiding every smart move.
• Don Ennio Salieri – a leader who knows respect isn’t given, it’s earned.

Tommy and Paulie join as you progress through stages of the battle pass. For those ready to expand their organization, Sam, Frank, and The Don are available via special in-game bundles.

Any respectable member of the family must look as sharp as they are dangerous. Three classy 2D styles are available to dress your tank for success:

• Little Italy
• Fair Play
• Lost Heaven Noir

Throughout the event, Commanders will also participate in special missions to earn additional rewards, and Twitch viewers will be able to claim themed Drops.

Roll out. Make tracks. And remember—We’re all family here.

For more information on World of Tanks, visit the games official website.

The next chapter in the Foundations series from World of Tanks: HEAT has arrived. Titled FOUNDATIONS: HUMAN-MACHINE SYNERGY, this latest instalment explores the dynamic relationship between Agents and their tanks, and how that union defines victory. Discover how coordination, customisation, and powerful Ultimate abilities redefine the battlefield.

‘Human-Machine Synergy’ Foundations Trailer

Agents are the backbone of human-machine synergy. Much more than mere operators, they bring their tanks to life. They modify, upgrade, and optimize them, balancing power, speed, and battlefield awareness in a way that perfectly aligns with their role within a squad.

Agents fall into three major classes:

• Defender: Made to take a beating, Defenders roll boldly into battle with a blend of survivability and firepower, plus some unique tricks up their sleeves.
• Assault: Attacking quickly and disappearing before the enemy can retaliate, Assault units are high-velocity menaces that thrive at the heart of a fight.
• Marksman: Lurking in the shadows and on the heights of the battlefield, Marksmen hunt from a distance, drawing enemies out without being spotted.

Tanks and their abilities

Each Agent can own up to two tanks, offering two different ways to fully express their combat style.

Every tank has signature abilities that can be improved through battle. For example, Hound’s AMX tank can launch a drone to sniff out enemies, then follow it up with a homing missile. Hound’s other tank, the Leo, is a master of deception that creates a distracting decoywhile preparing a trapping shot to stop enemies in their tracks.

Ultimates

When the battle reaches its peak, it’s time for Agents to unleash their devastating Ultimate abilities to turn the course of the fight.

Each Agent has their own unique Ultimate, shaped by their personality and battle style:

• Kent launches a punishing barrage of rockets, dealing crippling damage to all enemies struck.
• Hound turns his surroundings into a hunting ground, chaining kills together to trigger an instant ability cooldown.
• Chopper shakes up entire stretches of land with targeted repeat artillery strikes.

Variety is key

The roles and abilities in HEAT offer numerous ways to play and paths to explore. While each Agent has a broad battlefield role, within these roles lie opportunities for experimentation and optimization, letting you define and refine your playstyle.

There’s more to be unveiled in the upcoming videos, so stay tuned—and be sure to wishlist the game today on Steam!

Update brings dozens of new vehicles, including World War II legends and the most modern models

Gaijin Entertainment announces that the “Ninth Wave” major update for the online military action game War Thunder will be released in mid-March. It introduces Rank IX and the most modern generation 4+ aircraft, such as the F/A-18F and Su-30SM2. The major update will also feature Hungarian planes, redesigned classic maps like “White Rock Fortress” and “Ardennes” and dozens of new ground, air, and naval vehicles, including the American destroyer Helm, which was one of the first to fight back against the enemy at Pearl Harbor.

‘Ninth Wave’ Update Trailer

The Australian F/A-18F Super Hornet is a two-seat modification of the renowned fighter-bomber, capable of carrying a large number of AMRAAM active radar-homing missiles for long-range air combat and a vast arsenal of air-to-surface weapons for ground attack. These aircraft were delivered to the Australian Air Force from 2010 to 2012, and were used in Iraq in 2014.

White Rock Fortress, one of War Thunder’s first ground battle locations, was essentially rebuilt from scratch according to modern graphics standards, with an abundance of fine visual details, while maintaining the navigation familiar to veterans. A similar graphical overhaul awaits fans of the Ardennes map, with abandoned gun emplacements, collapsed buildings, and trees covered in autumn gold now look significantly better, while all approaches, bypasses, and terrain layout remain unchanged. There are also some gameplay innovations: abandoned vehicles (bulldozers and tractors) can now be used as temporary mobile cover by pushing them forward.

Hungarian combat aircraft will be added to the Italian aviation research tree, starting with the Héja I and II fighters, based on the all-metal Reggiane Re.2000 monoplane from the Second World War. The Héja I features an 8mm steel backplate, which adds some weight but significantly increases survivability. In the Héja II, Hungarian engineers installed a new domestically produced propeller-engine system, redistributed the fuel tanks, and installed Hungarian Gebauer 1940.M GKM heavy machine guns with a higher rate of fire.

The M1296 Dragoon is an American combat vehicle based on the Stryker platform, featuring a new unmanned turret with a 30 mm XM813 cannon. Its shells can effectively destroy light vehicles and helicopters, and even penetrate the side of any main battle tank. Its fast wheeled chassis allows it to accelerate to 100 km/h on hard surfaces, maneuver quickly, and flank the enemy.

More information about the “Ninth Wave” update can be found on the game’s official website.

World of Tanks: HEAT comes further into focus with “Foundations”, a new video series exploring the game’s universe, Agents, and vehicles. The first episode, “The Source of HEAT,” is available now, delivering the most detailed look yet at the game’s setting and high-intensity armored warfare.

Set in an alternative post–World War II timeline, World of Tanks: HEAT thrusts players into a world where experimental tech and armored combat keep global conflict in check. Warfare rages across varied landscapes, with elite operators and experimental armored vehicles serving as the last barrier between peace and total war.

Leading the fight are the High Efficiency Armored Teams (HEAT); elite Agents sent to stop conflicts before they ignite. Each Agent commands up to two dedicated tanks that are more than weapons, they are extensions of the Agents themselves. Fully upgradeable and deeply customizable, these machines evolve with your playstyle, defining how your tank looks, fights, and dominates the battlefield.

This trailer also offers a first look at World of Tanks: HEAT’s core game modes, each built around objective-driven combat:

“Foundations: The Source of HEAT” launches an ongoing series of videos exploring the Agents, vehicles, maps, and systems that define World of Tanks: HEAT.

Players can watch the first Foundations episode now and Wishlist World of Tanks: HEAT on Steam to stay up to date on future reveals and announcements.

For more information, please visit the World of Tanks: HEAT page https://wotheat.com.

Task Force Admiral – Vol.1: American Carrier Battles is now available in Early Access on Steam, bringing a new level of realism, immersion, and command depth to World War II naval aviation.

Task Force Admiral Launch Trailer

Set during the pivotal opening year of the Pacific War, Task Force Admiral places players in command of U.S. Navy carrier task forces in 1942. From managing reconnaissance and strike coordination to navigating fog of war, delayed communications, and real-time combat, the game delivers an uncompromising simulation of carrier warfare as it was fought.

With full 3D battles, authentic ships and aircraft, realistic ballistics and damage modeling, and multiple command perspectives — from first-person flag plot to God’s-eye view — Task Force Admiral blends classic naval wargaming with modern simulation technology.

What’s Included at Early Access Launch

Early Access begins with two of the most iconic carrier battles of the Pacific War, fully playable in both historical and variant forms:

Available on Release

These scenarios allow players to experience and experiment with the opening carrier clashes of the Pacific War, from historical outcomes to alternative what-if situations.

Coming Within the First Month of Early Access

Development will continue rapidly following release, expanding both sides of the conflict and deepening historical coverage with:

These additions will significantly broaden fleet composition, scenario variety, and historical depth as Early Access progresses.

A Living Carrier Warfare Simulation

Early Access marks the foundation of a larger series exploring carrier warfare in World War II. As development continues, Task Force Admiral will grow with new scenarios, forces, features, and refinements, guided by player feedback and historical research.

Availability

Task Force Admiral – Vol.1: American Carrier Battles is available now in Early Access on Steam.

Players can take command of history today and help shape the future of this next-generation carrier warfare simulation.

MicroProse is proud to announce that Task Force Admiral – Vol.1: American Carrier Battles, the long-awaited 3D command simulation of US Navy carrier operations in 1942, will launch in Early Access on Steam on January 27th.

To mark this milestone, a new public demo of Task Force Admiral is available now on Steam, giving players their first opportunity to experience the game’s distinctive approach to carrier warfare and real-time naval command.

This new version of the demo includes the following features:

• Two single scenarios (one historical, one variant with a new guest).

• A functional Battle Generator using the scenarios’ assets.

• Take control of your friendly fighters in 1st- and 3rd-person view to defend the skies over your Task Force!

• Compatibility with Tacview to review and assess your accomplishments.

• Updated gameplay and graphics.

Task Force Admiral Vol.1: American Carrier Battles is a single-player experience centered on the command of an early Pacific War US Navy carrier task force. As the overall commander, you are in charge of seeking the destruction of the enemy naval forces and preventing your opponent, the Japanese Navy, from accomplishing its objectives. To achieve your aims, you have at your disposal the most fearsome sea projection weapon known to Man in 1942: your carrier air groups and the task forces that support them.

As a carrier task force admiral in this pioneering age of air/naval warfare, assume the mantle of retribution in this innovative interpretation of a classic topic, as the first title in a new series that will further explore and develop the genre. Forget about the limitations of the past, and let the best of wargaming and simulation blend and blossom together in this new take on command at sea! Re-live the great battles of the first year of the Pacific War as if you were there yourself. In here there is no dice roll, no artificial skill-tree, no arbitrary stats, selective fog of war or supernatural crystal-clear communications. It is real-time crisis management for you, realism and historicity without concession, as little abstraction as can be, and loads of action, suspense and refreshing gameplay packed in the same single computer software.

The new update features a new legendary WW2 battle and more

Gaijin Entertainment and Darkflow Software announce that the “Far Eastern Front” content update for the online military shooter Enlisted is now available to players. It focuses on the confrontation between the USSR and Japan during the final stages of World War II, when Soviet troops fought the 700,000-strong Kwantung Army.

The Heilongjiang location is inspired by the landscape of northeastern China, with its characteristic hills, traditional villages, and thriving urban areas. Japanese troops have built powerful defensive lines here, which the Soviet army has to storm. A large city in the center of the map features a blend of Chinese and Russian cultures typical to this region at that time: massive stone buildings, wide streets, and signs in Cyrillic.

New weapons available include the Chinese Type 88 rifle, the Italian KE7 machine gun, the American Browning M1919A4 machine gun, the experimental Japanese Type 2 assault rifle (6.5mm) with an incredible rate of fire, and the legendary German Ferdinand heavy self-propelled gun, based on the Tiger (P) tank with an 88mm PaK 43/2 cannon and frontal armor up to 200mm thick.

Furthermore, in Enlisted, explosions from grenades, mortar shells, and anti-tank guns now leave craters, hot metal areas are displayed on vehicles, and the destruction of paper and wooden objects is accompanied by special effects.

“Far Eastern Front” Update Trailer

More information about the game is available at the official Enlisted website or on Steam.

Gaijin Entertainment announces that the “Line of Contact” major content update for the online military action game War Thunder is now available to players. It brings dozens of new iconic ground, naval, and air vehicles, including the M10 Booker tank, the Terminator series tank support combat vehicles, the F/A-18E Super Hornet carrier-based fighter, and the Prince of Wales battleship. Applications for the Infantry mode Closed Beta Test have also opened on the official website, and the test itself will start in the coming weeks.

“Line of Contact” Release Trailer

The M10 Booker is a modern American light tank with good mobility, a 105mm XM35 gun, and the best armor-piercing shell of its caliber, capable of penetrating even the best protected main battle tanks. The fire control system includes a convenient panoramic sight, a laser rangefinder, and a thermal imager. Although the M10 Booker program was canceled this year, two dozen vehicles were delivered to the troops in February 2024. In War Thunder, this tank is ideal for reconnaissance and in the sniper role.

The F/A-18E Super Hornet is a major upgrade of the F/A-18C Hornet, significantly different from the original model. For example the airframe was redesigned and is 90% different, featuring an increased proportion of composite materials. It is the most modern and advanced carrier-based 4++ generation fighter-attack aircraft in the US Navy, equipped with an active electronically scanned array radar, 11 hardpoints, a vast arsenal of smart weapons, and a convenient helmet-mounted targeting system.

The BMPT Terminator is a Russian specialized tank support vehicle. Its two 30mm automatic cannons can engage light vehicles and aircraft, while the Ataka ATGM allows for tank hunting. The first iteration of the Terminator also has an automatic 30mm AGS grenade launcher as part of its combat module. Both Terminator versions added to War Thunder use a tank chassis (T-90 or T-72), which provides good mobility and a good amount of protection compared to infantry fighting vehicles and other light vehicles.

More information on the update is available on the official War Thunder website.

Gaijin Entertainment announces that the “Line of Contact” major content update for the online military action game War Thunder will launch in late December and will feature closed testing for a completely new mode. This mode focuses on infantry fighting alongside modern ground and air combat vehicles in urban environments. The mode was announced in April 2025, and its open testing is scheduled for 2026. Furthermore, “Line of Contact” will bring new maps and dozens of new vehicles, as well as other improvements and content for existing War Thunder modes.

Watch the Line of Contact Update Trailer

Infantry battles will take place exclusively on new maps specially created for the new mode. Test participants will be able to fight for two in-game nations (the USA and the USSR/Russia) with pre-installed sets of modern weapons and gear, as well as ground and air vehicles. New maps, nations, and military hardware will regularly be added to the game in the future, just as in other War Thunder modes.

Infantry squads in the Closed Beta will be armed with M4A1, M16A4, M7, AK-74, AK-12, and ASM Val assault rifles; M249 Para and RPK-74M light machine guns; M110A1 SDMR and SVD-M designated marksman rifles; MAC 11 and PP-19 Bizon submachine guns; as well as hand grenades, grenade launchers, MANPADS, reconnaissance drones, and FPV drones. During the Closed Beta, infantry will be supported by M1 Abrams and T-72B tanks, M3A3 Bradley and BMP-3 fighting vehicles, and AH-64A and Mi-24V helicopters.

More information will be provided on how to access the closed beta test on the official War Thunder website.