War Thunder

Attack Boats, Destroyers and Heavy Cruisers on the Horizon as Japan Prepares for War at Sea

Gaijin Entertainment today announced that War Thunder will soon unleash the might of the Japanese Navy as the game’s fifth Naval Forces vehicle tree. Beta-testing of the initial lineup of the Japanese ships will start at the end of May, with the release of War Thunder’s next major Content Update 1.89.

The initial batch of Japanese ships will encompass more than 20 ships, ranging from torpedo and gunboats to destroyers and cruisers. Many of those were active participants in some of the biggest battles of World War II. This includes the light cruiser Agana, which evacuated Japanese forces from Guadalcanal, and the destroyer Yugumo, which escorted Admiral Nagumo’s strike force against Midway and was sunk during the battles around the Solomon Islands. While the majority of the ships belong to the Imperial Japanese Navy, the game will also see the addition of modern ships of the post-war Japanese Self-Defense Marine Forces, including the PT-15, which was the last torpedo boat to serve in the Japanese Navy.

The oxygen-propelled Type 93 torpedoes, which were used by Japanese destroyers and cruisers of World War II, were the most advanced torpedoes of their time and featured excellent hitting power, range and speed. After the war, they were referred to by most historians as the Japanese “Long Lance”. All players of War Thunder will be able to get their history lesson on that subject very soon, as – true to War Thunder’s realistic approach – both the design and capabilities of the Japanese Navy were recreated as authentically as possible. The Yugumo, for example, is equipped with eight torpedo tubes in two traversable quad-turrets mounted at the center of the ship, allowing the player to launch these devastating weapons to both sides.

After the release of Update 1.89, all players can get access to the beta testing of Japanese ships by completing tasks in War Thunder. Alternatively, access is granted via the purchase of one of the pre-order bundles containing a premium Japanese ship, a sum of premium currency, several days of premium time as well as a unique player title and vehicle decal. One pre-order pack will include the modern patrol boat PG-02 (Rank II), while the other will include the World War II destroyer Kiyoshimo (Rank III).

The launch of the Japanese Navy will also see another first in the game: The introduction of heavy cruisers. More information about this as well as the other new features of the coming Update will be made available on the War Thunder website over the coming weeks.

While the Japanese Navy is getting ready for battle, the fans might try another fun activity – the YouTube Cup. Popular War Thunder YouTube and Twitch content creators like MrSteveGamer or Abinavski will clash in this online tournament on May 6th – May 8th. The live stream from the tournament will be available at the official War Thunder channels on Twitch, YouTube and Facebook with the commentary from PhlyDaily – a famous War Thunder expert with more than 750,000 subscribers.

Battlefield Engineer event with 6 exclusive rare vehicles to acquire starts today in War Thunder

Gaijin Entertainment announced its Battlefield Engineer activity in the military vehicle online game War Thunder. The event gives War Thunder players the opportunity to repair and trade rare military vehicles. Players will get a battle damaged I-180S fighter and will be able to repair it back to operational duty. Restore as many of those fighters as you can to trade them for other rare vehicles including: VFW SPG, Pr.122bis submarine chaser, the Ju 388 J interceptor, the Merkava Mk.1 MBT or the light cruiser HMS Tiger. Top performing players will also get the chance to win exclusive camouflage for those vehicles.

In the event players will receive a damaged I-180S after the first battle.The first step in repairing the aircraft is diagnosing the vehicle in a diagnostic test flight to find out which components are defective. The damage to the components is unique for each aircraft and in most cases they can be indicated by a visual inspection. Armament, flaps, brakes – these and other components can all be tested in a diagnostic flight. Participation in the battle will give the user new components and Aircraft Maintenance Technician Toolkits that will allow them to disassemble and reassemble the plane. Players gain access to more repair components for the I-180S simply by playing the game, alternatively they can also speed up the process by buying the necessary items they need via the Gaijin Market.

Additional I-180S fighters will be received as Vouchers that can be traded for the unique rare vehicles: i.e. the Merkava Mk.1 is the first MBT developed and built by the Israeli armed forces, the light cruiser HMS Tiger is the last traditional WW2-era British gun cruiser design and the Junkers Ju 388J is a German late-war high altitude bomber hunter, designed in response to threats posed by the new American B-29 Superfortress bomber. These models are only available to players participating in the Battlefield Engineer event.

First place ranking players in the team at the end of each battle will receive extra Aircraft Maintenance Technician Toolkits and in some cases a coupon for the unique camouflage. All spare coupons, components and toolkits can be sold to other players in the Market.

More details on the Battlefield Engineer event are available at the official website.

Gaijin Entertainment announces the release of Content Update 1.87 ‘Locked on!’ for the military vehicle online game War Thunder. It adds radar systems as a new game mechanic for aircraft, helicopters and tanks as well as more than 30 new vehicles to the game. The extensive list of new machines includes the first French helicopters, new cruisers and destroyers, the first ground vehicles of the new Rank VII as well as the first surface-to-air missile (SAM) system, the Soviet 2S6 ‘Tunguska’.

Radar systems are a new game mechanic introduced to War Thunder and will be available on a large selection of different vehicles with the release of this update. Installed on anti-aircraft vehicles, they will allow for the detection and engagement of aircraft and helicopters in a large radius, increasing the protection of ground forces against aerial threats. AA gunners will be able to track and lead targets more effectively to counter the fast speed of supersonic aircraft, while the increased effective range will counterbalance the power of helicopters armed with guided missiles.

In turn, aircraft and helicopters that are equipped with radar systems can detect the presence of radar-assisted anti-aircraft systems – and some models can even detect the direction of the signal. Pilots will receive warnings, allowing them to evade an incoming attack by means of maneuvers or hiding behind obstacles. Affected anti-aircraft vehicles, however, can deactivate their radar at any time to reduce their visibility. This “electronic warfare” will make War Thunder’s combined arms battles even more tactically diverse.

16 tanks, aircraft and helicopters in total have been equipped with radar systems so far, including the first vehicle SAM system in War Thunder – the Soviet 2S6 ‘Tunguska’. It is armed with eight 9M311 surface-to-air missiles that will hunt enemy aircraft with speeds of up to 900 m/s, which can alternatively be used to combat armored ground vehicles. More radar equipped vehicles to come – including for Naval forces.

The new vehicles added with Update 1.87 include the first tanks of Rank VII, such as the M1A1 for the US and Challenger 2 for Great Britain, among others. Among the aircraft added with this Update is the fastest jet fighter in the game, the Japanese Mitsubishi T-2, which can reach an impressive 1.6 mach speed. Several aircraft present on Rank V were also equipped with air-to-air guided missiles.

Update 1.87 also includes a new combined-arms combat location, ‘Alaska’, where battles will take place both along wide city streets and in the dense, surrounding forests. Seeing a helicopter emerge behind one of the city’s skyscrapers is sure to turn any battle into a real blockbuster experience!

Watch the War Thunder Content Update 1.87 “Locked On” Teaser Trailer HERE.

More information about the War Thunder Update 1.87 ‘Locked on!’ is available on the game’s official website.

Gaijin Entertainment today announces the imminent release of the major content Update 1.87 for its military vehicle combat game War Thunder. Its release will push the boundaries of ground vehicle technology represented in the game even further, allowing players to go into battle with vehicles of the late 20th century, some of which entered service well after the end of the Cold War. Besides a new rank of modern ground vehicles, the new additions include many new aircraft and ships.

The new Ground Forces Rank VII will contain tanks and combat vehicles created between the late 1980s and 1990s, many of which participated in armed conflicts of their time. Some of the new vehicles, their features and unique combat capabilities will be detailed in the forthcoming War Thunder Developer Diaries, the first of which was recently released.

In it, players can read all about an icon of modern-day tank combat, the British main battle tank Challenger 2. In its current iteration, it is the most modern MBT to have ever served in the British Army. With Update 1.87, players of War Thunder will be able to command the Challenger 2, one of the world’s best tanks, in virtual battles all over the globe. Developed in the mid-1980s to replace the Challenger 1, it is has been on active service since the late 1990s and participated both in peacekeeping missions, as well as in military conflicts in Iraq.

Like its predecessor, the Challenger 2 in War Thunder boasts a great combination of mobility and firepower. Now featuring Chobham armour, it is one of the best protected vehicles in the game, and especially dangerous in frontal engagements. It will be a formidable enemy, even to the strongest vehicles the other War Thunder nations have to offer.

Learn more about Rank VII for Ground Forces, the Challenger 2 main battle tank and other upcoming vehicles and additions of Update 1.87 in the War Thunder Developer Diaries.

Gaijin Entertainment has today announced the release of Update 1.85 “Supersonic” for the vehicular combat MMO War Thunder. As the game’s most extensive expansion this year, it has added nearly 50 new vehicles including the first supersonic jet aircraft with guided air-to-air missiles, a new Italian ground vehicles tech tree, new modern tanks such as the U.S. M3 Bradley and Soviet T-72A, as well as new destroyers and light cruisers for Naval Forces.

With Update 1.85, Aviation in War Thunder has seen the dawn of a new era of air combat. The game’s previous five ranks of aircraft have been extended by the new top Rank VI, which will house several new near- and supersonic aircraft armed with guided air-to-air missiles. The first modern jet fighters to join War Thunder will be the American F-100D Super Sabre, the British Gloster Javelin Mk 9 and the Soviet MiG-19PT. Combat at supersonic speed will be subject to War Thunder’s realistic physics model, allowing players to observe the cone-shaped vapor cloud and those on the ground to hear the characteristic “sonic boom”.

Aircraft on Rank VI, as well as helicopters, can now be equipped with infrared guided air-to-air missiles as a new type of armament. These early guided missiles, while lethal when striking an unsuspecting enemy, are not very maneuverable and can be avoided by quick evasive maneuvers. A new warning system, which will alert affected players of an incoming attack, will help to do it in time. On helicopters, which are more limited in their evasion abilities, players can deploy infrared countermeasures for their own protection.

The Ground Forces of War Thunder have also seen a major addition this update, with almost 30 Italian vehicles from the 1930s to the end of the Cold War now available in-game. This includes vehicles such as the Breda 501 and B1 Centauro, which are excellent examples for Italy’s impressive lineup of fast and powerful wheeled combat vehicles. The anti-aircraft tank OTOMATIC is also sure to please Italian tankers on higher ranks, as its fast and powerful 76mm cannon with both sabot and proximity-fuse shells can punish enemy tanks and aircraft equally efficiently. For the other nations, the new vehicles include the long-awaited T-72A main battle tank for the Soviet Union, the ATGM-equipped infantry fighting vehicles M3 Bradley and Type 89 for United States and Japan respectively, as well as the Israeli Sho’t Kal Dalet, a modified Centurion tank available for Great Britain.

The War Thunder Naval Forces will also see several new additions, with two new destroyers as well as the four new cruisers, the U.S. USS Raleigh (CL-7), German KMS Köln, British HMS Dido and Soviet Krasny Krym. With Update 1.85, ther recently introduced Royal Navy also completed its closed beta testing, making more than two dozen British warships available to all players.

New locations for War Thunder include Vietnam, a new battlefield for tankers with the characteristic thick vegetation, narrow paths and coastal villages popularized by Vietnam War movies. Pilots can now dogfight over the skies of ‘Afghanistan’, depicting a modern-day version of the mountainous state featuring big cities among vast mountain ranges, while captains will be able to go to battle around the ‘Tierra del Fuego’ archipelago at the border of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

More information about War Thunder Update 1.85 “Supersonic” is available on the game’s official website.

Gaijin Entertainment has announced details about this year’s Festive Quest for War Thunder, a traditional in-game event marathon that allows players to obtain several exclusive Premium vehicles and additional bonuses entirely for free and simply by playing the game.

The Festive Quest will run from December 21 to January 14, and rewards include the two aircraft MB.152C1 (France) and Fw 190 C (Germany) as well as the two ground vehicles SU-85A (USSR) and T30 Heavy Tank (USA). The vehicles were specifically created for this year’s Festive Quest and can only be obtained by participating in the event. Other bonuses unlocked along the way in are several decals, camouflages and decorative items. All vehicles are awarded as coupons, which means players can either use them for their own account, or sell them after the event for premium currency to other players on the Gaijin Marketplace.

About the ‘Festive Quest’: The War Thunder Festive Quest is an in-game event marathon offering varying challenges for players on tanks and aircraft. Players can progressively advance within the event by completing in-game tasks such as destroying enemy vehicles or capturing objectives. With every challenge unlocked, players receive a different in-game bonus, including the aforementioned vehicles at certain milestones.

Detailed information about the War Thunder Festive Quest is available on the official game website.

Gaijin Entertainment has announced that the upcoming Update 1.85, nicknamed ‘Supersonic’, will introduce a new top rank of aircraft to the free-to-play vehicular combat MMO War Thunder. The new Rank VI will feature supersonic jets armed with air-to-air guided missiles – a completely new type of armament in the game.

Supersonic Rank VI aircraft: The in-game nations USA, Great Britain and USSR will be the first nations to feature new Rank VI aircraft. Among those is the first mass-produced supersonic jet, the F-100 Super Sabre, which will be available for the U.S. Air Force in the F-100D modification. Royal Air Force pilots will get their hands on the two-engine Gloster Javelin F.A.W. Mk.9, while the USSR will receive the MiG-19PT, the fastest of the three.

The new aircraft can reach a maximum speed of 1200 to 1450 km/h (745 to 900 mph), enabling them to quickly gain altitude to easily catch up with adversaries and take an advantageous position for an attack above the battlefield. At the same time, the high speeds will require pilots to react quickly and anticipate the actions of their enemies, as maneuvering at the speed of sound is by far not an easy task.

Air-to-air guided missiles: The main feature difference of aircraft of Rank VI is the availability of air-to-air guided missiles as a choice of armament. These missiles are guided by infrared, which means they follow enemies by tracking the hot exhausts of jet and gas turbine engines.

This new type of armament will be available for helicopters as well; which will also receive new types of defense to counter air-to-air missiles: heat flares, exhaust infrared suppression system and counter-optical-electronic systems. Deployed infrared countermeasures disrupt the missile guidance, thus ensuring that cannon-based armament remains important.

If a missile is fired at a player, an on-screen warning will let the target know about the incoming attack. In such a case the best course of action is to change the direction of flight direction immediately to evade the attack.

Additional Rank V aircraft: With the embrace of a new supersonic era of combat aviation in War Thunder, several new Premium aircraft will be made available on Rank V for the respective nations. Among the aircraft that will help to quickly unlock the latest supersonic aircraft will be the Soviet MiG-15bis ISh, the American F-86F-35 Saber and the British Meteor F Mk.8 Reaper. All aircraft will feature a large selection of rocket and bomb armaments, which will also provide new opportunities to combat high-ranking enemy tanks in combined arms battles.

More information is available on the official War Thunder website.

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.