MMORPGs

Gaijin Entertainment today announced that Update 1.47, titled “Big Guns”, for the award-winning MMO WWII online game War Thunder is now live. Now War Thunder’s eight million players worldwide have access to a slew of new and improved features, including map improvements, graphical enhancements and additional armored vehicles and aircraft. To see the full list of new improvements and features, check out the official patchnotes.

The name Big Guns signifies the arrival of the biggest vehicles from WWII to War Thunder: the formidable bomber B29 Superfortress, with a wingspan larger than some modern airliners, and the super-heavy tank, Pz.Kpfw.VIII Maus, which weighed an incredible 188 tons. Additionally, the USSR gets the early version of the legendary Il-2 Sturmovik, which has the most detailed armor modelling (30 individual components) on any plane in a flight sim to date and sets the new standard for future aircraft in War Thunder.

Overall, 14 new planes and tanks join the War Thunder arsenal. Plus, with Beta-testing for the American tank line-up now complete, all players can use more than 30 US WWII tanks in high intensity battles.

War Thunder ground battles become even more realistic with the addition of different terrains. Now tanks move faster over roads, but drift more and slow down when they hit mud or soil. Adding even more realism, the tanks actually slow down and start to chew up the earth, carving deep grooves in the tank’s path, and of course this off-road driving affects the vehicles’ appearance, leaving them covered in dirt and dust. Tank warfare becomes even more tactical now, as the straightest route isn’t necessarily the fastest one!

Update 1.47 also sees the implementation of in-game items, which players can obtain in a number of ways, including daily login bonuses, special gifts, winning battles and through the in-game store. Players can use them immediately or store them for future use. Examples include boosters for research points for individual players or for the whole team, discounts for particular vehicles, chances to get premium planes or tanks and much more. Wagers are special items that allow players to set some conditions (e.g. several victories in the row) and get a huge reward if they succeed.

Of course this is not the complete list of new features that Update 1.47 “Big Guns” yields, as there are binocular views and driver cameras for more realistic tank game modes, operable canopies for aircraft, night lights and contrails for planes and improved performance and graphics quality for low-end PCs. For more details and to see the complete list of new and improved features, please check the developers blog and patchnotes.

Check out the latest trailer here.

New German ground attack aircraft enter combat

Wargaming today announced that update 1.7 for its flight combat MMO World of Warplanes has been released in Europe and will be available to players from North America on February 19.

A new branch of German ground attack planes has been added to the mix, including the iconic Junkers Ju.87G Stuka and the Messerschmitt Me. 265 prototype.

Lower tiers of the new branch feature more classic ground attack planes, and middle tier planes are equipped with impressive major caliber weapons. For higher tiers there is a swift increase in speed, and players will find that they are excellent, all purpose vehicles.

Update 1.7 also introduces two new game locations, “Province” and “The Observatory”, both available for tiers 5–10. “Province” transports players to an Italian-themed warzone during spring. Here they can find snaking valleys of canyons and plateaus, littered with several towns and connecting bridges. “The Observatory” is a European-themed battleground. In this harsh winter environment, players can soar across mountain ranges to discover a wide canyon marks the center of the map.

For more information on World of Warplanes Update 1.7 and to register for a free account, visit the games official website.

The 12 biggest names in World of Tanks set to compete in totally revamped eSports tournament format

Wargaming is excited to announce that the Wargaming.net League 2015 Grand Finals will be taking place on April 25–26 at EXPO XXI in Warsaw, Poland. Organized with support from the city of Warsaw, the event will see the 12 finest World of Tanks teams clash in a series of high-octane battles to determine who deserves the title of the world champion.

“The biggest WGL eSports event is about to start its engine,” said Mohamed Fadl, eSports Director of Europe and North America at Wargaming. “The recent revamp of tournament rules changed the surface of WGL eSports. Soon, we’ll see the best of the best meet in the final face-off in what’s set to be a breathtaking and action-packed Grand Finals.”

“I’m delighted that Warsaw, for a second time in a row, will be hosting the best World of Tanks pro players,” said Michał Olszewski, Deputy Mayor of Warsaw. “It’s thanks to the excellent cooperation and the great atmosphere of last year’s event that organizers decided to choose the Polish capital once again for the Grand Finals. The previous tournament gathered masses of spectators and I hope that this year will be another resounding success.”

Ahead of last season’s regional qualifiers, the Wargaming.net League introduced a revamped tournament format, coming up with Attack/Defense mode. The new setup and rules were developed in cooperation with pro gamers to strengthen gameplay and streamline objectives in eSports matches for World of Tanks.

Whether playing in attack or in defense, teams now have to take a proactive role in order to win, enhancing the tournament’s entertainment value. Having no chance of a draw, players must seize the initiative in battle to ensure victory. The teams had one season to refine their tactics and master the new setup.

During its first year, the Wargaming.net League has attracted over 200,000 pro gamers and hosted over 1000 tournaments. Drawing on the enthusiasm of Wargaming, its players and fans, the upcoming Grand Finals are set to be an even larger spectacle than last year’s event.

The 2015 Grand Finals will be free to the public, with a variety of prizes and exclusive giveaways for the most passionate spectators.

Click here for more information on the Wargaming.net League 2015 Grand Finals.

The mobility and tactical flexibility of aircraft carriers bring a real strategic dimension to the battle

Wargaming is excited to share a new video featuring the aircraft carrier into the game.

With the introduction of the aircraft carrier class, bringing the total class of warships up to four, players also have the chance to take advantage of stealthy destroyers, stalwart cruisers and devastating battleships. Aircraft carriers offer a unique angle to combat, delivering RTS style gameplay and the ability to launch three types of warplane squadrons (fighters, dive bombers and torpedo bombers) against any opponent.

To learn more about World of Warships second Beta Weekend, Click Here.

Personalized campaign setup and unique in-game rewards available to all players

Wargaming today announced the all new personal mission system for the free-to-play online action game World of Tanks is now live worldwide. The intricate system gives tankers the opportunity to personalize their mission experience by selecting specific missions from a variety of different campaigns and offers unique rewards upon completion.

Each campaign in the new setup is composed of a collection of missions for players to choose from. Players are not restricted to one single campaign, and they may opt to complete missions from different campaigns without playing them in succession.

After completing a chain of missions in a campaign, tankers will be awarded unique prizes specific to each mission. These new rewards include credits, Free Experience points, and high tier vehicles, the StuG IV (Tier 5), T28 heavy tank concept (Tier 7), Т-55 NVA DDR (Tier 9), and Object 260 (Tier 10), all with 100% tank crew, as well as the Sisterhood of Steel perk and female crew members.

Click Here for more information about World of Tanks.

Gaijin Entertainment has released the full original War Thunder soundtrack to fans. Split into two albums – Air Forces and Ground Forces – the soundtrack contains 50 inspiring orchestral tracks as featured in the epic, breath-taking battles in War Thunder.

The soundtrack was created in collaboration with Strategic Music studio to produce an exquisite live-performed orchestral score, and can now be purchased from iTunes, Amazon and Google Play. For more information, visit: http://warthunder.com/en/soundtrack

Over eight million players already know the enjoyment of laying opponents to waste, leaving only burned out hulls in their wake in War Thunder. This cross-platform MMO game is currently in Open Beta for PC, Linux and Mac OS, available for PlayStation®4 and OnLive®, Oculus Rift and is in development for other unannounced platforms. Players have access to over 450 historically accurate WWII planes and armored vehicles. For more information, please visit http://www.warthunder.com

New tanks, maps and Personal Missions roll out in Update 9.5

Wargaming today announced that Update 9.5 for World of Tanks has been released in Europe and North America, and will be available to players in Asia on Dec. 23, and Korea Dec. 30. This update brings a wealth of new content by adding 10 new British vehicles along with 3 original battlegrounds: the ruined settlement of Mittengard, the desolate Ghost Town and the snow-covered Winterberg. In addition to the content update, a new Mission system, Personal Missions will become available Jan. 15, 2015.

The newest update to World of Tanks brings a new force of British vehicles rolling out onto the battlefield with a line of impressive British Tank Destroyers. Beginning at Tier 5, the line includes the very distinct Archer with its backward facing gun, the powerful and agile Charioteer, and the FV4005 Stage II. In addition to the Tank Destroyer line, the British tech tree receives 3 new Medium vehicles including the iconic and highly anticipated Sherman Firefly, Sherman II and Grant, along with 2 Light Tanks, the M2 and Stuart I-IV.

Beginning Jan. 15, 2015 tankers will be able to put their skills to the test in new missions called Personal Missions. Unlike the current Mission system, Personal Missions allow players to select the mission they want to complete and missions will not have a time limit. Upon completion of these missions, players will receive a variety of great rewards including unique high-tier vehicles, medals and female crew members.

Click Here for more information about World of Tanks.

US tanks join the fight

Gaijin Entertainment announces that Update 1.45 (code named Steel Generals) for the award-winning MMO WWII online game War Thunder is now live. Now War Thunder’s eight million players worldwide have access to a slew of new and improved features, including new maps, new armored vehicles and aircraft, an improved damage model, a tow cable system and reworked Artillery Strikes. To see the full list of new improvements and features, visit the War Thunder developer’s blog.

The biggest addition to War Thunder with this update is the beta of the Steel Generals expansion, which includes the first six American tanks available now. By the end of Q1 2015, more than 30 US WWII tanks will be available. This release schedule allows Gaijin Entertainment to test each of the tanks to ensure that they are ready for battle when commercially launched. In honor of the update launch, special packages are available for purchase that contain premium US tanks and other bonuses alongside closed beta access. Players can participate in the Steel Generals beta by entering into contests and in-game events in War Thunder.

Click here for more information about the special US tank beta packages.

War Thunder is a free-to-play, cross-platform, massively multiplayer military masterpiece for PC, PS4, Mac and Linux with more than eight million players worldwide, that allows players to fight their way across air and ground with access to almost 500 of historically accurate planes and armored vehicles from WWII and Korean War. Fans can expect hundreds more added as Gaijin Entertainment commits to ongoing development via regular updates. For more game information, please visit the official War Thunder website.

New combat mode, map and custom warplane added to game

Wargaming today announced that the new winter game mode Snowball will be added to the action MMO World of Warplanes. The new Snowball combat scenario available starting December 18 through January 15 includes a unique battle arena, daily missions, new consumables and custom built aircraft for pilots to enjoy during this holiday season.

In Snowball mode, players will battle to eliminate the opposition in standard Team Deathmatch rules on the Lapland map created exclusively for this mode. The only aircraft available is the UFO Odin 42M vehicle that fires snowballs instead of rockets. This aircraft comes with 100% trained crew, hangar slot and is free to all registered players.

During the holiday event, special consumables—Fireworks, Sparklers and Smoke Flare—will be available for players that accomplish specific combat missions and earn achievements.

Players that complete the “Happy New Year!” mission will be awarded the Dornier Do 17Z-7 Kauz warplane.

For more information about World of Warplanes and additional information on holiday events, visit:

• http://worldofwarplanes.eu (Europe)
• http://worldofwarplanes.com (North America)

There’s something momentous on the horizon, and you’re just the salty-dog to get the job done. We’re looking for a few good sailors to join us in testing the latest build for World of Warships! We’ve got a cargo hold full of keys to distribute, so scope the information below and get in on all the high-seas action!

• Begins: Friday, December 12 at 15:00 PST / 18:00 EST
• Ends: Sunday, December 14 at 23:59 PST / 02:59 EST on December 15

“This weekend with World of Warships, we are starting with a new model of testing and are looking forward to seeing the results of this new approach,” states Daniil Volkov, World of Warships Development Director. “The game is still in the early stages of development. Opening it to a larger audience will allow us to get a lot of relevant feedback that will be instrumental in defining player expectations and outlining what we are to focus on in the coming months.”

The event will feature three classes of military vessels, offering players the chance to experience the unique “Rock-Paper-Scissors” approach to naval combat. Players will have the opportunity to command American cruisers and destroyers as well as Japanese battleships, cruisers, and destroyers.

Once they’re up and running, you’ll be able to head to any one of our media partners’ sites for details on how to secure a ticket aboard this weekend’s World of Warships testing event.

• IGN
• Gamespot
• MMORPG
• Curse (requires login)
• TenTonHammer

Activating Your Key
After you’ve run the gauntlet and secured your key, it’s time to click on this link and follow the directions! Please keep in mind that there is a non-disclosure agreement and an embargo on any media impressions or reviews at this time.

Watch the first World of Warships gameplay video HERE.