War Thunder

War Thunder: Italian Ground Forces Set For Release With Next Update

Gaijin Entertainment today announced that the Italian Ground Forces will be the next national research tree to be added to the free-to-play vehicular combat MMO War Thunder. Coming with Content Update 1.85 scheduled for December this year, dozens of Italian ground vehicles will celebrate their debut on the battlefield and reinforce the Italian Air Force that is already present in the game.

Italian vehicles and tanks will form War Thunder’s seventh national Ground Forces research tree. Historically accurate, playable tanks, self-propelled guns, anti-aircraft vehicles and other ground equipment from the early World War II period to the later stages of the Cold War will form the spearhead of the Italian Ground Forces. Offering some of the most interesting and original vehicles to be found in the game, such as armored cars with deadly recoilless guns and powerful, large-caliber anti-aircraft vehicles, Italian tanks will further greatly enrich the diversity of War Thunder’s ground combat experience.

One of the prime examples of Italy’s prowess is the Semovente 105/25 M43 a late World War II self-propelled gun and tank destroyer, featuring a deadly 105mm cannon and a low, well-armored front earning it the nickname “Bassotto”, or “Dachshund”. With its hollow-charge rounds it is a serious threat even to the best-armored enemies it will face on the battlefield.

A Premium version of this vehicle, belonging to the famous “Leoncello” tank division, is now available as a pre-order in the War Thunder store. Owners of any of the three Italian vehicle packs, including those that contain either the P26/40 “Leoncello” or M26 “Ariete” tanks that are already playable in War Thunder, will be among the very first to try the new Italian ground forces in combat. Until December 6th, players can secure a 30% discount by purchasing all three vehicle packs in a bundle.

The Italian Ground Forces will enter testing with the release of Update 1.85. All owners of an Italian vehicle pack and those players that fulfill special in-game tasks in War Thunder will be able to join the testing. These tasks will be published immediately after the release of the update.

To learn more about the upcoming Italian ground vehicles, be sure to follow the War Thunder Developer’s Blog, which will see detailed introductions of some of the most interesting vehicles over the coming days.

A free ship for everyone and a chance to unlock the rare E-100 Tank!

Gaijin Entertainment invites all fans of War Thunder to join them in celebrating the vehicular combat game’s six year anniversary. Players await several specials and events in game. Including discounts of up to 50% in the game store, free boosters, decals, a giveaway of the Soviet premium ship Ya-5M as well as tournaments for the rare German E-100 tank and He 162 jet fighter.

In just six years, War Thunder has grown from an air combat simulator to a massive vehicular combat game featuring the largest arsenal of playable vehicles ever, presenting players with over 1000 different tanks, aircraft, helicopters and ships from the 1930s to the early 1990s. The six year anniversary specials are a perfect opportunity for all fans to expand their lineups of vehicles even further, including the chance to unlock some of the rarest vehicles available in game.

From November 1st to November 5th, all players that reach five victories in the recently introduced Naval Battles will permanently receive the exclusive Soviet gunboat Ya-5M, while participating in just one battle of any kind will yield the exclusive “6 Years of War Thunder” decorative decal.

Through special tournaments, players can obtain a coupon for some of the rarest vehicles in game: the German super-heavy E-100 tank and the He 162 A-1 jet fighter. Competitive matches are available in all game modes and both single players and groups can participate. While the competition will be fierce, the rewards are definitely worth fighting for, as those vehicles cannot be obtained in War Thunder by any other means. Winners of a coupon are able to use it to unlock the vehicle for themselves, or sell it on the Gaijin Market to other players. Given the rarity, those coupons will certainly be in high demand!

The War Thunder anniversary celebrations will continue until November 10. Follow the news in-game for regular updates or check out the official War Thunder website for all information regarding the anniversary HERE.

Gaijin Entertainment today released content Update 1.83 “Masters of the Sea” for their vehicular combat MMO War Thunder. The comprehensive update opens the previously closed test of Naval Forces to all players, giving them command of over 80 vessels from the United States, Germany and Soviet Union. Furthermore, helicopters are now available to unlock, the game has become free-to-play on Xbox One and the update includes many other improvements, new features and vehicles for players to try.

The anticipated public release of the Naval Forces for all players on PC and consoles is the biggest feature of “Masters of the Sea”, making 85 historically accurate ships from the United States, Germany and the Soviet Union now available to all players. On locations all over the globe, all War Thunder captains can now command a variety of warships, ranging from torpedo boats to cruisers, in challenging sea battles with and against other player-controlled ships and aircraft. While the battle for the high seas is on, a new Naval nation, Great Britain, enters closed testing with 26 ships alone, including the famous Flower-class corvettes – the symbol of victory for Britain. Players that wish to be among the first to try the British fleet can obtain tester access through in-game tasks or by purchasing a British naval pack in the War Thunder store. Development of the Naval Forces mode continues in full swing, with more nations to receive their own ship trees, more ships for existing trees, additional game modes and extended features all planned for future War Thunder content updates.

Also now available are the recently introduced helicopters of the United States and Soviet Union, as well as an entirely new set of German helicopters debuting with this update. Helicopters are a new branch of modern vehicles available in War Thunder that excel in support duty against ground vehicles, but are vulnerable against attack, especially from the air. Players can employ their helicopters in combined arms battles including player-controlled tanks and aircraft, or partake in dedicated helicopter vs helicopter encounters featuring AI ground targets.

With the pre-release phase on Xbox One coming to an end, War Thunder is now finally available as a free-to-play game for all current subscribers of Xbox Live Gold. Players on the console can now join their comrades-in-arms on PC in seamless cross-platform gameplay on tanks, aircraft, helicopters and, last but not least, ships.

Extended features of the update include several new aircraft and tanks for the existing nations, such as the German Ju 288C bomber and Japanese Type 75 multiple rocket launcher tank, as well as new and improved locations and plenty of other changes and under-the-hood improvements. Recent economy changes saw significantly increased research point (RP) rewards for active ground forces players, especially during longer battles.

More information about War Thunder Update 1.83 “Masters of the Sea” is available on the game’s official website: http://www.warthunder.com.

New Aircraft sounds & Modern-Era Tanks Roll Out in War Thunder’s Latest Project X Update

Gaijin Entertainment has today released Update 1.79 ‘Project X’, the second massive update to the military vehicle combat game War Thunder this year. With more than two dozen new and reworked ground vehicles and aircraft, a massive new location based on the Italian peninsula for combined arms battles, a new map titled ‘Lagoda’ for aerial battles and a complete rework of the game’s sound effects for all aircraft, ‘Project X’ adds a vast amount of new content to the game.

1.79 update also expands the selection of modern era vehicles available in War Thunder to the early 90s. The most modern tanks in the game now are Japan’s Type 90 Kyū-maru and late modification of the German Leopard 2A4. France takes delivery of the AMX-40, and the Soviet Union adds the T-62M-1. Britain now fields a modernized version of the Centurion AVRE engineering tank, while the US sees the two competing XM-1 prototypes from Chrysler and General Motors, one of which would later evolve into the famous M1 Abrams that is already available in War Thunder.

In the hangar players can now utilize “Protection Analysis”. This function allows players to choose a tank and check the vulnerability of any part of it. For the attacking side players can set a model of a tank, a type of shell, distance and direction of a hit. A complicated algorithm will show the chance of a ricochet, penetration and which modules of the attacked tank will be damaged by the hit.

‘Project X’ brings many new aircraft to the fray such as the US’ FJ-4B ‘Fury’ naval jet, the Soviet Union’s IL-28Sh jet bomber, the German twin-boom heavy fighter Bf 109Z ‘Zwilling’ , as well as the game’s first indigenous Romanian fighter aircraft, the I.A.R. 81-C .

War Thunder aviation now features a completely new weapon – remote control bombs, whose flight can be slightly corrected to hit targets more precisely. A perfect weapon against ships.

All aircraft in War Thunder, from biplanes to jets, now have new sound effects for engines, weapons, mechanisms and more. Sound effects now vary realistically depending on player point of view and actual vehicle position. Closed cockpits now properly muffle exterior noises, allowing pilots to hear the distinct inner workings of their machine, while bullets and aircraft whizzing by leave lasting and recognizable impressions.

For more detailed information about War Thunder Update 1.79 ‘Project X’ check out the official announcement trailer and the detailed changelog on the game’s website.

Light Cruisers Join An Already Impressive Line-Up of Warships As Naval Forces Closed Beta Testing Approaches

Ahead of the upcoming launch of War Thunder’s Naval Forces Closed Beta, which will see the first reveal of the game’s early ship tech trees, developer Gaijin Entertainment presents a new class of warships to be added to the game – light cruisers. This class will feature the most powerful armament among all the ships in the game. Their sheer size and destructiveness will make them a centerpiece of any naval battle, entrusting their captains with great power and responsibility over the battle’s outcome.

The first two models of light cruisers presented are the British HMS Enterprise, an Emerald-class light cruiser, and the Italian Giussano-class light cruiser Bartolomeo Colleoni. The HMS Enterprise is capable of speeds up to 33 knots, boasts good armour, and is armed with seven 152mm main cannons, as well as anti-aircraft cannons, machine guns, and even torpedo tubes. The Bartolomeo Colleoni is slightly faster at 37 knots and surpasses the HMS Enterprise in armament, as it offers eight 152mm main cannons plus six additional 100mm long range cannons. Its protective capabilities, however, are considerably weaker, with only 24mm of hull armour in comparison to the 76.4mm offered by the British ship. Captains of the Bartolomeo Colleoni will also have to keep an extra eye on the sky, considering the noticeably weaker anti-air defense compared to the HMS Enterprise. The latter, however, still remains susceptible to attacks from daring torpedo bombers, given that the British ship will need more time to maneuver than the faster Italian vessel.

In War Thunder Naval Battles, light cruisers are well placed at distance from smaller enemy vessels, in such conditions, they can inflict severe damage on the enemy fleet while sustaining fire even from two destroyers simultaneously. In close combat, armour-piercing shells can deal devastating damage to light cruisers, and they always need to keep an eye out for enemy torpedo boats sneaking dangerously close. Played strategically, light cruisers protected by destroyers and patrol ships will be able to assert dominance over an entire sea sector, securing strategic positions and blocking enemies from advancing through an area of interest.

More information about the new class of warships in War Thunder and the progress of the Naval Forces Closed Beta is available on the game’s official website HERE.

Four New & Unique Vehicles Are Obtainable In This Year’s In-game-Event Series, Plus Plenty of Decals, Decorations And More

Gaijin Entertainment’s vehicular combat MMO War Thunder has launched the “Chronicles of World War II”, a series of in-game events recreating some of the most important battles of World War II. Between mid-April and Victory Day in May, players can take part in more than 40 of the biggest military clashes of the 20th century and earn four new and unique premium vehicles in the process. Available are the armored car T18E2 for the United States, the Lorraine 155 MLE.50 tank destroyer for France, the Whirlwind P.9 attacker for Great Britain and the TANDEM-MAI multipurpose fighter for the USSR. Apart from the exclusive vehicles, event participants can earn dozens of dedicated decals and decorations, which all will be available only during this year’s series.

All in-game events of the series are held in their historical chronological order, beginning with the German invasion of the USSR in 1941 until the final Battle for Berlin in 1945. Pilots and tankers will clash on the hot deserts of North Africa, fight along the narrow streets of European cities and hunt each other in the skies above the Pacific Ocean. Every day, six new events are available in all difficulty settings, through which participants can earn the “Chronicle Awards” necessary for unlocking the aforementioned content.

In addition to the exclusive rewards obtainable in the events, special bonuses including premium vehicles are also available by fulfilling tasks in War Thunder’s regular random battles and earning “Parts” in the process. With those, players can obtain decorative items and decals that were previously available only in specials and later also use them to unlock the premium lend-lease Matilda Mk. II infantry tank for the USSR and premium PV-2D Harpoon bomber for the USA. The number of tasks performed by all players of War Thunder is tracked on the game’s official website, and whenever it reaches a certain milestone, in-game participants receive awards and, ultimately, the blueprints to assemble both the tank and bomber for free.

More information about the events and obtainable awards, including historical and technical information on the unique premium vehicles, can be found on the official War Thunder website HERE.

A Unique Spitfire Up For Grabs, Plus Other Specials And A Massive Discount

Gaijin Entertainment and the vehicular combat MMO War Thunder commemorate the recent centenary of the Royal Air Force this upcoming weekend. Available are a host of in-game specials, including the chance for all players to obtain a new and unique model of the famous Spitfire, as well as a massive discount on a special pack of premium aircraft perfect for British aviation enthusiasts.

Britain, which is one of the oldest nations playable in War Thunder, is a favorite of hundreds of thousands of virtual pilots from all over the globe, fascinating players with its exceptional aircraft ranging from the trusty Gloster Gladiator biplane to the impressive Hawker Hunter jet fighter. Almost 100 different aircraft are playable in total, including not only fighters, but also well-known World War II veterans such as the Swordfish torpedo-bomber that helped sink the German battleship Bismarck, the Beaufighter as the world’s first aircraft designed to fit a radar device, or the Gloster Meteor, the only jet to participate on the Allied side in the war.

The country’s most famous wartime development, the renown Supermarine Spitfire, is represented in War Thunder with more than 20 different models alone. Players will be able to obtain a unique model, the Spitfire F.Mk.IXc equipped with four powerful 20mm Hispano cannons, for the first time ever during the centenary festivities by participating in an in-game tournament hosted on this occasion. A true legend both in real-life and in War Thunder indeed, the Spitfire is perfectly captivated in the recent episode of the game’s “Legends” series on YouTube.

Furthermore, all players will be able to obtain a unique RAF decal to decorate their favorite aircraft with by fulfilling in-game tasks. Two rare premium aircraft, the Spitfire LF Mk. IX flown by Southern Rhodesian ace pilot John Plagis and the Typhoon Mk. Ib, will be available for purchase using the in-game currency Golden Eagles throughout the upcoming weekend.

And as a special treat for all British aviation enthusiasts, the War Thunder store offers a great selection of the country’s most popular aircraft bundled in the special “His Majesty’s Finest” pack available at a whopping 30% discount. Besides plenty of Golden Eagles and Premium time, the bundle includes the Spitfire FR Mk. XIVe flown by the Canadian John Prendergast, one of the last pilots to fly reconnaissance over Normandy ahead of D-Day, the multi-role strike aircraft Westland Wyvern and the Martin-Baker MB 5 prototype fighter, one of the most advanced aircraft of its time.

More information about the centenary specials are available on the official War Thunder website.

Massive Update 1.77 ‘Advancing Storm’ enhances visuals, audio, and enters next-gen armored warfare with M1 Abrams, Challenger 1, Leopard 2K, T-64B & more

Gaijin Entertainment today announced the release of major Update 1.77 ‘Advancing Storm’ for its vehicular combat MMOG War Thunder. ‘Advancing Storm’  introduces the PC and console versions of War Thunder to Gaijin’s new and improved Dagor 5.0 engine, capable of near photo realistic environments and vehicles. The update also adds nearly two dozen new vehicles, including five next generation tanks on Rank VI: the M1 Abrams, Challenger 1, Leopard 2K, T-64B and AMX-30B2 Brenus.

Among the graphical improvements introduced with Dagor Engine 5.0 are technologies like Global Illumination (GI) and Contact Shadows. Together with photorealistic weather effects, volumetric fog and smoke, War Thunder is now visually more much more life-like and detailed. Also new is Temporal Anti-Aliasing (Variance Clipping TAA), an anti-aliasing algorithm that greatly reduces the visible “noise” on distant vegetation, smooths the appearance of objects, and adds more detail to surfaces. Furthermore, the creation of landscapes was improved with the addition of visible reliefs via displacement mapping, resulting in much more visually diverse environments. Roads, for example, now have potholes, ruts and may show puddles of slush, water or mud – with the latter depending on the current weather and type of terrain. These landscape changes are visible to players on all graphics settings.

Accompanying the visual improvements is a complete redesign of in-game sound effects. Each shot effect is now created from several layers of sounds that correspond to peak and residual effects. Thus, experienced tankers are now able to determine the caliber of the cannon that fired the shot, even from distance. The effects themselves received additional details, so players can now hear the sound of cases dropping as they fire, or the working loading mechanisms of their cannons. Aircraft sounds are more vibrant and powerful. Further improvements are also planned for future updates.

Several next generation main battle tanks of the 1970s and 1980s now reinforce the arsenal of War Thunder on Rank VI: the U.S. M1 Abrams, British Challenger 1, German Leopard 2K, Soviet T-64B and French AMX-30B2 Brenus. All of them boast powerful weapons, armor, high speed, and mobility. Noteworthy here is the special cannon of the T-64B that allows it to fire ‘Cobra’ guided anti-tank missiles and the AMX-30B2 Brenus’ powerful reactive armor. Some of the vehicles introduced with Update 1.77 are still in service today.

German pilots can look forward to the heavy Heinkel He 177 A-5 Greif bomber, which was created by a War Thunder player under the Revenue Share Partner Program. You can follow up on the He 177’s creation process on War Thunder Live.

Update 1.77 ‘Advancing Storm’ features plenty of other graphical improvements, vehicles and changes. Read more on the official War Thunder website.

Major content update also adds new game mechanics, maps, vehicles and sets stage for the popular New Year’s Marathon offering free unique vehicles to all players

Gaijin Entertainment released Update 1.75 “La Resistance” for its vehicular combat MMO War Thunder. Besides adding more than a dozen aircraft, new locations, and a new reconnaissance mechanic for light tanks, the update introduces the previously announced Ground Forces research tree for France. Furthermore, the update sets the stage for the popular New Year’s marathon, where players can obtain tanks and aircraft unique to this year’s event. Watch the War Thunder: Update 1.75 ‘La Résistance’ trailer HERE.

The French Ground Forces research tree starts with a staggering amount of 35 vehicles from Rank I all the way to Rank VI, encompassing early tanks of the 1930s as well as modern vehicles from the late stages of the Cold War. The production of the most modern model in War Thunder, the AMX-30V2, began in 1982 and it is still in service today with several armies worldwide.

Together with the French Ground Forces comes the new combined battles location “Maginot Line”, portraying one of the sectors of France’s famous fortification line against Germany with its bunkers, a small town and even a medieval castle. Another new location, “Middle East”, sees combat between a ruined city and an oil plant located in the blazing desert sand.

A new reconnaissance game mechanic has been introduced for light tanks of all nations, which greatly expands the teamplay value for this type of vehicles. Now, light tanks can transmit information about enemy vehicles to their teammates and can assist all allies with repairs on the battlefield. More information about this is available HERE.

The air forces of War Thunder have received more than a dozen of new machines, including the twin-engined World War II machines Yak-2, Yak-4 for the Soviet Union and the British Whirlwind. New post-war fighters wait for the US and Japan, with the F3D-1 Skyknight and F-86-F40 Kyokko, respectively.

To celebrate the festive season, pilots and tankers of War Thunder can obtain unique Premium vehicles for free. For pilots, the P-40C for the USA and a captured Fw 190 A-8 in the French tree are available, while tankers can get the British wheeled armored car AEK Mark II, which is equipped with a tank turret, and a German Panther tank that is disguised as an American M10 tank destroyer. Specifically created for the New Year’s marathon this year, these vehicles can only be obtained during this event by fulfilling specific tasks available from 22 December to 22 January. Further rewards include boosters, decals and 3D decorative items.

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

Gaijin Entertainment announced today that the next content update to its vehicular combat MMO War Thunder will introduce French Ground Forces. Following the addition of the French Air Force early in November with Update 1.73 “Vive la France”, the French Army will enter the battlefields of War Thunder with dozens of armoured vehicles available from rank I to rank VI. New technology peculiar to French tanks, such as oscillating turrets and drum-fed autoloaders, will open new tactical opportunities to players.

On the early ranks, French tanks are generally well-armoured, which will provide good protection for the small crew of only three men. Most outstanding here are the heavy tanks, the Char B1bis and Char B1ter, which are not only exceptionally well protected, but also offer a large crew and powerful armament. Their low speed and maneuverability however leaves them vulnerable whenever rapid movement is required, e.g. to position correctly against the most powerful cannons or evade airborne attacks. To avoid rockets and bombs, players of the early French heavy tanks will have to pay close attention not only to the battlefield itself, but also to the situation above it.

Starting with the medium ranks, several French tanks are equipped with automatic loading devices. These autoloaders allow for a number of shots to be taken in quick succession, followed by a very long reload time. This allows players on more modern French vehicles equipped with this technology to push fast aggressive armored assaults against the enemy.

Post-war vehicles of the French nation feature yet another characteristic new to War Thunder – oscillating turrets. These turrets are divided into two sections, with the upper responsible for cannon elevation and the lower for turret traverse. This ingenious engineering solution significantly reduced the size of the turret, making it a much more difficult target.

The first two tanks in War Thunder that combine both of these new technologies are the AMX-13 SS.11 and the M4A1 FL10, with the latter being a modification of the American Sherman tank. The turrets of both vehicles are equipped with an autoloaded 75mm cannon featuring two six-round drum magazines, allowing each to take a series of 12 shots in quick succession. Due to the long time required to change the two drums, finding a safe place after an attack is important. However the AMX-13 S.11 is also equipped with four guided anti-tank missiles, so even being spotted during reload does not necessarily mean game over.

For more information about these vehicles and other upcoming French tanks, follow the War Thunder Developer Diaries page.

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