MMORPGs

Night Witches Racing Events, Store Discounts and Enchanted Tanks for Halloween & Fourth Anniversary Events

For Halloween, Gaijin Entertainment is celebrating the fourth anniversary of War Thunder’s launch with prizes, events, discounts and competitions.

Halloween specials are running from October 28th through November 2nd. Pilots and tankers can take part in special racing events; pilots can take the helm of the infamous soviet night bomber, the Polikarpov Po-2 of the ‘Night Witches’ squadron, as they race for first place, evading opponent turret fire. Similarly, fans of ground forces can race to the Sepulchre in an enchanted M18 Hellcat tank, operating without a commander or crew. Successful racers are rewarded with a Witches’ Cauldron, yielding unique decorative items such as pumpkins and witches hats that you can adorn your vehicle with, as well as boosters that improve earnings.

Festivities will include discounts of up to 50% on vehicles, premium accounts, modifications and other in-game items. Players can look forward to new events, promotions and discounts every day culminating in a great two-day celebration of War Thunder’s fourth anniversary on November 1st and 2nd. No fan of War Thunder should miss this!

For more details on the War Thunder Halloween events and approaching 4th anniversary celebrations be sure to visit the news page here.

Discover the renowned British cruiser in mixed reality VR, then put her to the test in-game

World of Warships fans and historical enthusiasts alike can jump into the HMS Belfast VR Experience, then set sail with the historic British cruiser in-game.

HMS Belfast, the largest preserved warship in Europe, played an important role in the Battle of the North Cape in 1943, assisting in the destruction of one of the last big-gun German warships: Scharnhorst. At the time, HMS Belfast was the most advanced light cruiser in the world, and she will soon arrive in World of Warships as a Tier VII Premium ship, as part of the Royal Navy line.

With the help of World of Warships historians Richard “The Challenger” Cutland and Nicholas “The Chieftain” Moran, you can discover just what HMS Belfast is made of in the new 360-degree video, which teleports you to the real ship on the River Thames in London, mixing in battle visualizations using the highly detailed 3D ship models from World of Warships.

“HMS Belfast is a famed vessel that inspired us to create an unprecedented VR experience that deepens the historical connection to the World of Warships in-game experience,” said Alex Bobko, Head of Marketing Special Projects at Wargaming. “We just couldn’t pass up such deep access to this noteworthy ship. Visiting her in London allowed us develop groundbreaking content for our viewers, inviting them to jump into a mixed reality VR experience on the real ship, and then get hands-on experience with her in-game.”

Wargaming would like to thank the Imperial War Museum for the opportunity to create the VR experience inside HMS Belfast, and discover what life was like at sea for the crew from 1938 to 1963.

The HMS Belfast VR Experience is viewable for free on any Virtual Reality headset, as well as any mobile or desktop device.

For the latest game information, visit the official World of Warships website.

10 British cruisers can now fight for Queen and Country

The Royal Navy may have been on the horizon for some time, but now the branch of 10 British light cruisers are finally ready to set sail. Agile and stealthy vessels like Minotaur and Edinburgh will definitely go down a treat for fans who like to strike hard and fast in World of Warships.

Swans may be protected by the Queen, but she won’t save you when you start sailing up the Tech Tree in the Tier I Black Swan. At Tier VI, Leander is ready to fulfill your fantasies of reclaiming the British Empire. Also, remember to queue properly as you work your way towards Edinburgh at Tier VIII.

Finally, at Tier X, you can butt heads with other ocean beasts in the powerful Minotaur. She was the epitome of design for light cruisers at the beginning of the postwar period. In addition to her compact dimensions, maneuverability, and low detectability, this cruiser boasts an amazing firing rate, and her dual-purpose guns provide a superior AA engagement area radius. Also, who can forget that a formidable advantage of the Royal Navy is their torpedoes? They have the option to fire singularly from multiple tube launchers. Make sure you get the most out these legends.

“The Royal Navy has such a rich history and we’ve had our sights set on including her line in the game for a while,” said Artur Plociennik, World of Warships Global Publishing Producer. “Because we respect its history so much, we wanted to ensure we had every detail down, to create an exceptional player experience.”

The Royal Navy consists of agile, stealthy vessels, making them perfect for rushing headlong into objectives, while singing “Rule, Britannia”. They are excellent at hunting destroyers, and their low detectability and rapid-firing guns make them efficient in encounters with more “neutral” cruisers. Combine this with their excellent torpedo armament and the smoke screen ability, and you’ll be able to punch a hole through well-armored foes.

Lastly, players who have reached Account Level 4 in the game will find containers with some mystery booty inside. All you have to do to haul up these treasures is simply play the game. Now, stick the kettle on, whip out the scones, and take a British cruiser for a spin.

Watch the new World of Warships – The Navy is Here! trailer here.

For the latest game information, visit the official World of Warships website.

The latest issue of the Battlestate Games’ developer video diaries is dedicated to collecting audio references for its upcoming game Escape From Tarkov – this time visiting the legendary firearms manufacturer Concern Kalashnikov with Escape from Tarkov’s Lead Animator Alexander Kovalchuk.

In creating Escape from Tarkov, a realistic hardcore MMO video game, every little detail matters. The developers are paying attention to all of the numerous aspects of the project, with particular interest in sound effects. For the purpose of recreating the weapon fire sound effects, the studio developers traveled to the training grounds of Concern Kalashnikov, where the company representatives were prepared with the live prototype weapons from the Escape from Tarkov arsenal.

Escape from Tarkov is a hardcore online game that combines FPS/TPS with RPG elements. As a hazardous environment combat simulator, the game uses multiple system modules for ultimately immersive gameplay and complete feeling of reality. The closed beta-testing of Escape from Tarkov is planned for 2016. Sign up for beta on the official Escape from Tarkov website.

Players can unlock access to Escape from Tarkov as early as closed testing stage by placing a pre-order on the project’s official pre-order page.

Update 9.16 marks the debut of a Swedish Premium tank, the new Paris map, and player-requested improvements

ABBA, Ingrid Bergman, Bjorn Borg, the Strv m/42-57 Alt A.2—things Sweden is known for, right? Well, maybe not that vehicle, but World of Tanks is planning to change that. The game is opening up its ranks, welcoming the first Swedish tank to the game in its latest update, with 19 more on their way later in the year. This Tier VI vehicle is the first Premium medium tank of this tier with a drum-type autoloader and is equipped with the well-known turret from the French AMX-13 light tank series.

“We already announced the new vehicle branch for further updates, and we’re happy to introduce the first Swedish tank,” said Thaine Lyman, World of Tanks Product Director. “It features pretty good mobility and an oscillating turret with an autoloader, and it is well-suited for levelling up your first Swedish crew and earning some extra credits.”

Along with the first Swedish vehicle, the Paris map is saying bonjour to Random Battles. It recreates many destinations from the romantic capital of the world, sending any tanker’s heart all aflutter. Landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Seine River bank, Théâtre national de Chaillot and districts of Haussmannian buildings can all be found as you explore. Every vehicle type is set to find some intense battles, wherever they decide to strike from.

Update 9.16 also brings improvements to the sound system. You’ll find that the range of sounds for high calibers was extended and sound indication for damage received was also enhanced. So, now it’s even clearer to assess how serious the damage sustained by your tank is.

The in-game minimaps have also been updated based on player feedback, with 30 more rolling out with higher visual quality so you have a crystal clear idea of your surroundings. In addition, the in-game interface also features a range of improvements, including popular mods that will make your time on the battlefield and in the Garage much more enjoyable.

We’re always looking out for player feedback, so don’t hesitate to tell us what you think in order to make the game better.

For more information on World of Tanks Update 9.16, visit the games official website.

1.63 Update Brings the Heat with Exciting New Sinai And Greece Maps and Over 20 New Vehicle Additions

Gaijin Entertainment today announced that its award-winning military online game, War Thunder, will be introducing new maps and more than 20 new vehicles in its forthcoming 1.63 update for War Thunder’s ten million players to enjoy.

The Desert Hunters 1.63 update will introduce the searing expanse of Egypt’s sparsely populated desert region of Sinai. This large and unforgiving terrain will challenge even the best tankers and pilots as they fight it out in combined battles amongst a myriad of sand dunes and in the ruins of an old village as they battle to capture an oil installation.

War Thunder’s second map is designed for aerial combat located in Greece, the labyrinth of rocky valleys with its twisting turns and obstacles will test the skills of any decent pilot. Players will need to navigate a multi tiered landscape and be on the constant lookout for ‘boom and zoom’ fighter attacks looking to make a surprise kill.

War Thunder’s already massive roster of more than 700 vehicles gets another boost with the addition of new ground vehicles and aircraft. The new WW2 and Cold War era options include three new top rank self-propelled anti-aircraft guns as well as plenty of other new ground vehicles and tanks. One of those is the British Swingfire anti-tank wire guided missile system, which is sure to pack a punch with its high explosive warhead against armoured vehicles.

First to raise the bar in the anti-air department is the American M163 Vulcan Air Defense System with its massive, six-barreled 20mm Gatling autocannon capable of firing more than 3000 rounds per minute. Equally impressive is the famous Soviet ZSU-23-4 ‘Shilka’ with its 23mm ‘Amur’ quad anti aircraft cannon and Germany’s last cannon-based anti-aircraft tank, the Flakpanzer Gepard, with a twin 35mm Oerlikon KDA autocannon.

The latest 1.63 update will also add the following planes, the giant Blohm & Voss BV 238, one of the largest and heaviest flying boats ever produced by Axis powers during WW2, the plane will also be the biggest aircraft available in War Thunder complete with it’s 60 meter wingspan. The US Air Force will be getting a carrier based jet, the F9F8 Cougar. For Japan, the latest update will see the introduction of the high altitude interceptor the Ki-87 and for the British the Bristol Brigand twin engined anti-shipping / ground attack plane.

To see all the latest information on the Desert Hunters 1.63 update click here.

To download War Thunder, please visit the official War Thunder website.

Battlestate Games has presented a new video of the online game Escape From Tarkov. The action takes place in the different weather and time of day, from the perspective of a former operative of USEC, one of the two Tarkov factions.

Escape from Tarkov is a hardcore and realistic online first-person action RPG/Simulator with MMO features and a story-driven walkthrough.

With each passing day the situation in the Norvinsk region grows more and more complicated. Incessant warfare in Tarkov has sparked massive panic; the local population has fled the city, but those who stayed are looking to improve their fortunes at the expense of others. Having accepted the new reality, savage Tarkov locals – “Scavs” flocked into well-armed gangs and started the redivision of the city. Nowadays, Tarkov is separated by unseen borders, controlled by different groups. Gain-greedy gunmen would go to any length to have their way, including the murder of civilians and direct confrontation with the two private military companies.

The players will have to experience living in the skin of one of the mercenaries who survived the initial stage of the Tarkov conflict. After choosing one of the sides – USEC or BEAR – the player’s character starts to make his way out of the city. Tarkov is sealed off by UN and Russian military, supply chains are cut, communication with operational command is lost, and in these conditions everyone has to make his own choices of what to do and how to get out of the chaos-ridden metropolis.

More info on Escape From Tarkov can be found at the game’s official website.

By James Cobb @ The Wargamer

Age of Sail games are few and far between for reasons unknown. The last really good one was Akella’s Age of Sail II: Privateer’s Bounty although Shrapnel Games’ Salvo! came close. Perhaps the intricacies of sailing frightens off gamers even with the popularity of Russel Crowe’s Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. [A terrible, terrible film -ED] Game Labs has taken up the challenge with Naval Action, an MMOG. Since the game is in Early Access, we have an opportunity to see how such a game on an esoteric subject develops.

Read on…

Naval Battles Launches in Closed Beta Later This Year with “Knights of the sea”

Gaijin Entertainment has announced the forthcoming start of closed beta for Naval Battles, the highly sought after combat mode in War Thunder, its award-winning MMO WWII online game with first exclusive hands-on at this year’s Gamescom. The inclusion of Naval Battles will provide fans with the ability to battle from the land, sea and air.

The participants of naval battle’s upcoming closed beta will be called the “Knights of the Sea”. Made up of torpedo, artillery and missile boats, coast guard vessels and submarine chasers, they are the so-called “small” naval contingent that served in all oceanic theatres of World War 2.

“The high level of realism is one of the key design features of War Thunder. Vehicles are as close to their real life counterparts as possible. Classic large ship battles during the war were contests of patience and planning, where engagements could last from several hours to several days. In War Thunder, where all kinds of vehicles fight in one battle and players can control aircraft, tanks and ships, it is not possible to change the size of the ships or make time run faster, as everything needs to remain consistent.

Our internal testing showed that battles with large battleships were too long and slow or required design changes that made ships entirely unrealistic. For this reason, we are leading with fast attack-based craft, which are rarely reproduced in games. Ships, that are more suitable for the formula of our game. These fast, agile and dangerous “Knights of the Sea” are worthy contenders for aircraft and tanks on the ground” – says creative director Kirill Yudintsev, Gaijin Entertainment.

All nations in War Thunder will get naval forces. Invited players and those who purchase one of two Starter packs with unique ships, will be able to join the closed testing as soon as the testing phase begins later this year.

The first Starter Pack includes a Soviet Project 1124 Armored River Boat. The T-34 turret and two 12.7mm machine guns allow the gunboat to efficiently eliminate enemy ships and low-flying aircraft; but the main destructive power of the Project 1124 lies in her M-13-M1 unguided rocket launcher, the legendary Katyusha.

The second starter pack includes the famous American PT-109, a motor torpedo boat on which the future US President John F. Kennedy served and performed acts of wartime heroism. During one of the operations the boat was subjected to a surprise ram attack from the Japanese destroyer, Amagiri. Despite a serious back injury, Lieutenant Kennedy acted wisely and decisively, saving all ten surviving crew members. In War Thunder, this boat is a fast and maneuverable ship destroyer. Her four torpedoes, each weighing almost 1,200 kg, come in handy for destroying large naval targets. Both ships will be available at the start of closed beta testing.

The first to take part in the naval battles of War Thunder will be the visitors of Gamescom 2016. In the game booth in Hall 6, Gaijin Entertainment has organized a special closed area, where guests can try their hand as captains of attack boats. For those unable to visit the exhibition, there will be a special video broadcast from the official Twitch booth and new devblog updates each day, where developers of the game will talk about the new regime, present ships of different nations and run giveaways of closed beta access codes for the viewers.

Watch the new War Thunder: Knights of the Sea – Naval Battles teaser trailer here.

Purchase the Naval Starter Packs at the Gaijin Store.

To find out more about Naval Battles, please visit the official War Thunder website.

The Russian-based Battlestate Games Studio has announced the start of its technical Alpha testing of Escape from Tarkov, its hardcore online game. First players, those who have claimed their eligibility for participation by pre-ordering the game from the official website – have already been admitted into the game.

Further admittance of eligible players will be conducted in waves, every new wave being formed with one or two day intervals in chronological order: first players who pre-ordered the game, will also be the first to try it. The avant-garde of the Escape from Tarkov heroes will be welcomed by two already familiar raid locations “Factory” and “Customs”, and they’ll come across 15 types of weapons and a wide variety of equipment and supplies.

The main purpose of the technical Alpha testing is for the developers to fine-tune the basic mechanics over high loads, exploring the locations for possible issues, hunting for bugs that are likely to occur in the early stages of testing both in offline and online modes. Along with collecting player feedback, the developers will be optimizing the Escape from Tarkov Alpha version game performance, fixing the discovered issues and adding new content. At this point, the online game mode already includes the majority of essential features, including inventory management, trade, medical treatment, weapon modding and ballistics. Also, players will be able to check out the daylight and weather changes with impressive weather effects.

Escape from Tarkov is a hardcore story-driven MMO featuring elements of FPS and RPG. The events take place in the Russian city of Tarkov, which has been sealed of by roadblocks and sunk into the chaos of local warfare between private military companies. Escape from Tarkov’s Hazardous Environment Combat Simulator employs a number of custom system modules to create incredibly immersive gameplay and make players feel the reality of what is happening in the game.