War Thunder News & Announcements
Japanese Takao-class cruisers are often described as the most well-balanced ships of this type in the service of the IJN.IJN Takao: A Heavy Cruiser for Japan at Rank IVAt a glance:
  • 10 x 203 mm guns with a flat trajectory
  • High speed
  • Improved protection for ammunition magazines
  • Large number of automatic anti-aircraft guns
  • 16 high-speed “Long Lance” torpedoes
  • Two seaplanes
  • Radar
  • Massive superstructure
Introducing IJN TakaoToday we’re excited to be looking at a swift, well-protected ship armed with ten 203 mm guns and renowned 610 mm “super-torpedoes”, coming to War Thunder in the next major update. Meet IJN Takao, an exemplary heavy cruiser!Using IJN Takao in BattleDespite being a large ship, IJN Takao surprises with excellent speed for its class and features impressive ballistics from its ten 203 mm main guns. While IJN Takao’s armor can withstand hits from light cruisers, fire from large ships with large guns pose a serious threat. Given this, you’ll be much better suited for long-range engagements when using Takao, especially considering its lackluster secondary armament. However, for close-quarter encounters, Takao possesses an undeniable trump card: it has four torpedo launchers equipped with the renowned 610 mm super torpedoes, the finest of the Second World War! For defense against aircraft, Takao relies primarily on light anti-aircraft guns, featuring a total of sixty 25 mm automatic cannons. As an added bonus, Takao is equipped with an air-search radar and two catapults for seaplanes.Feature Spotlight: A well-balanced heavy cruiserThere are ships that have no glaring flaws, and IJN Takao is one of them. It performs well at both medium and long ranges, is effective whether operating solo or as part of a group, and boasts decent protection and survivability. While it has no firm drawbacks, no ship is perfect, as IJN Takao has some weaknesses, such as a massive, poorly armored superstructure and a very slow main battery turret traverse speed. Nevertheless, the well-balanced combination of its core combat characteristics easily outweighs these shortcomings. Takao is a fun and effective ship!Developer comment: Players will now have access to a ship that serves as a further evolution of the premium Myoko. In addition to ten long-range 203 mm guns housed in five turrets and excellent speed, IJN Takao features enhanced protection, particularly around the ammunition magazines, as well as a radar. On the downside, the ship has a larger profile and lacks strong secondary-caliber guns. Nevertheless, the new Takao is arguably set to become Japan’s best heavy cruiser.Vehicle HistoryThe design of this new class of cruisers began in 1925 under the direction of Kikuo Fujimoto, based on an improved version of the Myoko class. Although the Takao was the first to be laid down, its sister ship, the Atago, entered service two months earlier. At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Takao was part of Vice Admiral Kondo’s 4th Cruiser Division, supporting the landings on Luzon.In February 1942, the ship was based at Palau, where it intercepted vessels arriving from the Dutch East Indies; on March 1st, it sank a Dutch steamship and a British minesweeper. The following day, alongside Atago, it sank the American destroyer Pillsbury. On March 4th, it attacked a convoy near Cilacap, after which it returned to Yokosuka for the installation of additional anti-aircraft guns.In April, Takao took part in the pursuit of the task force involved in the Doolittle Raid. In May, it rescued 471 crew members from the seaplane tender Mizuho. In June, it provided cover for the invasion of the Aleutian Islands. During the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, it joined other cruisers in sinking the aircraft carrier Hornet. In November, it participated in the bombardment of Henderson Field and sustained damage during an engagement with American battleships.In early 1943, the ship supported the evacuation of Guadalcanal. In November, while at Rabaul, it was attacked by carrier-based aircraft and struck by two bombs; repairs were completed in January 1944. During the Battle of the Philippine Sea, Takao served as part of Kurita’s vanguard force. In October 1944, it departed from Brunei to take part in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, but while passing through the Palawan Passage, it was struck by two torpedoes fired by the submarine Darter. The cruiser lost all propulsion and was towed to Singapore. There, it was deemed beyond repair and repurposed as a floating anti-aircraft battery.On July 31st 1945, British midget submarines attached six magnetic mines to its hull. The resulting explosion tore a hole in the ship. The cruiser remained afloat and continued to perform its duties until Japan’s surrender. After the war, its armament was removed, and on October 27th 1946, Takao was towed into the Strait of Malacca, where it was sunk as a target ship on October 29th.That’s it for this blog! IJN Takao is set to be a strong contender for Japan’s best heavy cruiser. Until the next dev blog, happy sailing ahead!Please note that vehicle specifications may be subject to revision and change before being added to the game.
Calling all pilots! Today we’re inviting you to take part in testing of the large-scale Nuclear Escalation mode in Simulator Battles.
When: From October 27th (13:00 GMT) until October 29th (13:00 GMT)Where: Events & Tournaments → Nuclear Escalation.
FeaturesThis is the same Nuclear Escalation mode found in Realistic Battles, but played at the Simulator Battles difficulty level, with the corresponding flight model settings and marker configurations.You’ll engage on the Tropical Coast and Southeastern City maps featuring the same ground vehicles categorized by era according to their Battle Rating. However, rewards in this mode will be calculated in the same way as in Enduring Confrontation, and matchmaking will be based on the following Battle Rating ranges (which correspond to the era boundaries):
  • 8.7-9.7
  • 10.0-11.0
  • 11.3-13.0
  • 13.3+
Don’t miss your chance to take part in the testing from October 27th to 29th and share your feedback with us. See you in the skies!
Ground Vehicles
  • Object 416 — a bug that caused the machine gun ammo to not display above the action bar has been fixed. (Report).
 Game Mechanics
  • A bug where vehicles in battle were sometimes not locked for respawn if their last destruction was counted as a crash or leave kill has been fixed. This issue could have occurred after using a backup vehicle or exhausting the tournament respawn limit.
 Graphics
  • A bug that sometimes caused ray traced shadows of ships to disappear or flicker has been fixed.
  • A bug that caused the screen to turn black on Linux with Ray Reconstruction enabled has been fixed.
Other 
  • A bug that in some cases caused the game on MacOS and Linux to consistently crash right after logging in has been fixed. (Report).
Patch notes reflect only key changes, meaning they may not include a complete list of all improvements made. Additionally, War Thunder is constantly being updated and some changes may not require an update. Changes reflected in patch notes are formed by taking reactions and requests of the community from the bug reporting service, forums and other official platforms into account. Bug fixes and changes are implemented in order of importance, for example a game-breaking bug will be worked on and implemented sooner.
Autumn is in full swing, and the forces of darkness are holding their contests once again! Go for a wild, wind-swept ride through gloomy locales, soar like a witch through a treacherous, danger-filled gorge, defeat your rivals and don’t forget to let out an eerie laugh! Halloween Cosmetics & RacesNote: The start of the Spooky races has been pushed back by 24 hours!
When: From October 28th (11:00 GMT) until November 1st (11:00 GMT).
Spooky Decals and a Profile Frame!Get yourself two decals and a profile frame, guaranteed to send shivers down your spine. Simply participate in spooky races and get some points, and they will be yours! “Sinister Lands” Profile Frame“Green Ghosts” Squadron Emblem Decal“Boo” DecalFor 750 rating points in the Ground event: “Through the dark forest” race you’ll receive this profile frame after the event endsFor 500 rating points in the Ground event: “Through the dark forest” race you’ll receive one of the decorations in the “Witch’s Cauldron” trophyFor 750 rating points in the Air event: “Witch Hunt” race you’ll receive this decalFor 300 rating points in the Air event: “Witch Hunt” race you’ll receive one of the decals in the Dead Man’s ChestEarn 3000 mission points in any vehicle at rank III or higher with at least 70% activity to get this decal! If you already own all the decals in the Dead Man’s Chest or all the decorations in the Witch’s Cauldron, you’ll receive a trophy instead containing one of the following rewards:
  • A 20–50% research point booster for 3–10 battles
  • A 20–50% Silver Lion booster for 3–10 battles
  • 3–5 universal backups
  • 1 day of Premium Account
When: From October 27th (11:00 GMT) until November 1st (11:00 GMT).Decals in the Dead Man’s Chest The Dead Man’s Chest trophy is once again available to purchase in the in-game shop! In it, you’ll be able to get Halloween decals from previous Halloween events. Below are four of our favorites!  “Grim Reaper” decal“Snail killer” decal“Angry Black Cat” decal“Blow Your Mind” decal Decorations in the Witch’s CauldronThe Witch’s Cauldron trophy is once again available to purchase in the in-game shop! In it, you’ll be able to get Halloween related decorations from previous Halloween events. Below are four of our favorites!  “Slasher’s Hatchet” decoration“Cannibal Axe” decoration“Witch Hat” decoration“Slasher’s Mask” decoration Ground event: “Through the dark forest”!Take part in fast-paced races through creepy places in the spooky M18 “Witch” tank!
  • Earn 750 points to receive the “Sinister Lands” profile frame
  Air event: “Witch Hunt”!Welcome to the dangerous Po-2 “Night Witch” aircraft race! Her path lies between rocks and is full of dangers.
  • Earn 750 points to receive the “Green Ghosts” Squadron Emblem decal.
  The top 1,000 pilots with the highest rating at the end of the air event will be awarded with the Po-2 (USSR) aircraft!
  • This aircraft will be added to your account within 48 hours after the event ends.
  • You can track your rating by clicking on the “Award” button in the “Events” window. The update time of the table can take up to 15 minutes.
 Have a fantastic time this Halloween! 
Missed a day or two during a long login streak? That’s no longer a problem!Hey everyone! Today we’d like to tell you about a new mechanic that lets you freeze your daily login streak, preventing you from losing it. Let’s dive into the details of this mechanic, coming to War Thunder and War Thunder Mobile!How does it work?“Freezes” are earned by logging into the game. For every 12 days you login, whether consecutive or not, you’ll receive one “freeze” point. You can accumulate a maximum of 30 freeze points per account, which is enough to cover a month’s worth of missed logins over the course of a year. Each freeze point prevents your daily login streak from resetting when you miss a single day. The freeze is applied automatically the moment your streak would otherwise end; there’s no manual activation or confirmation needed. The system has your back! If you go without logging into the game for more days than you have freeze points, then your login streak will reset, but your freeze points will be preserved.Your accumulated freeze points do not disappear. If you had 3 freeze points and were 8 days into the 12-day cycle before the next one and you didn’t log into the game for three years, you would still have those same three freezes on your return, with 9 remaining until the next freeze is earned. The counter simply continues to tick from exactly where you left off.For War Thunder and War Thunder MobileThe freeze mechanic for daily logins applies to both your War Thunder account and your War Thunder Mobile account. You’ll earn freeze points once per day by logging into either game. These points are only consumed if you have enough of them to cover the days missed in your login streak; they’ll be applied first to the game with fewer missed days.For example, if you have 8 freeze points, miss 3 days of your War Thunder login streak, and miss 10 days of your War Thunder Mobile login streak, the mechanic will use your freeze points to cover the 3 missed days in War Thunder. Your War Thunder Mobile progress will then be restored to the point it had reached on the day you last logged into War Thunder.It’s for everyoneThis mechanic will be available for everyone and not linked to Premium account, everyone can use it without restrictions. You cannot buy or sell freeze points, as they are just an extra reward for logging in regularly, offering a bit of flexibility whenever you might need it. An indicator for your available freezes will appear on the daily login screen, so you’ll always know how many days you can skip.As soon as this new mechanic is ready to be implemented into the game, we’ll be sure to let you know!That’s all for now! We’ll be back soon with more details on the next major War Thunder update, so be sure to stay tuned.
Sometimes, things happen that you wouldn’t even dare to dream of. Meet the Mistel 2, a very peculiar aircraft(s!), featuring a Fw 190 literally carrying a Ju 88 bomb. Due to this unusual configuration, it earned the nickname “Father and Son”. By taking part in Air Battles, you can also earn a decal of the same name, a “Child with a Bomb” decal and a “Mistletoe” (the literal translation of “Mistel”) profile frame! 
From October 28th (11:00 GMT) until November 11th (11:00 GMT), earn mission points in Air Battles, unlock stages and receive rewards!
Mistel 2: A Premium Bomber for Germany at Rank IIIThe Mistel 2 is one of the most unusual strike systems in history. It consists of a combination of two aircraft: an Fw 190 A-8 fighter, stripped of its armament to reduce takeoff weight, and a Ju 88 G-1 bomber, the forward section of which was converted into a massive bomb equipped with a shaped-charge warhead. During flight, the pilot in the fighter’s cockpit would direct the bomber-aircraft toward the target; the attachments holding the two planes together would then be released, allowing the bomber-aircraft to fly toward its target in a straight line, guided by an autopilot.    “Father and Son” decal“Child with a bomb” decal“Mistletoe” profile frame Among the rewards in the event is also this chest. When opened, there is a chance of receiving one of the following items:
  • 50,000 - 100,000 Silver Lions
  • Silver Lion and Research Point boosters
  • Random Wagers and Orders
  • Universal Backups (1 - 3)
  • A random camouflage for a vehicle you own
  • 1 day of Premium Account
How to get all rewardsEach stage is unlocked for 35,000 mission points and brings a new reward. 
Please note: Once the stage is unlocked, you will need to claim your reward manually. To do this, click on your profile, select the “Dreams Come True: Mistel” category, and click Claim Prize.
You’re able to earn mission points in Air Battles at Rank III or above in Arcade, Realistic and Simulator Battles. The number of mission points to complete a stage depends on the game mode and the maximum Rank of the vehicle that you use in battle. There’s a multiplier for earning mission points, which is shown in the task description in-game.You can also earn mission points by using event vehicles that are Rank I and II. Event vehicles that can be used have the name of the event that they were obtainable in on their stat card. 
Stages change every two days at 11:00 GMT: October 30th and November 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th.
Rewards are given when you complete a specific number of stages
  • For 1 stage: one of the decal rewards
  • For 2 stages: a trophy with a random reward
  • For 3 stages: one of the decal rewards
  • For 4 stages: a trophy with a random reward
  • For 5 stages: “Mistletoe” profile frame
  • For 6 stages: the Mistel 2 premium aircraft
  • For 7 stages: a special camouflage for the Mistel 2
Discounts on purchasing stages using Golden EaglesIncomplete stages can be purchased for Golden Eagles, but if you’re significantly close to completing a stage, its price will be significantly reduced.Let’s say you have earned 85% of the required mission points to complete a stage, then the price of purchasing this stage will be halved. If you’re near the finish line for a stage and are at 95% progress, then the price will be reduced by five times. For example, if you’ve earned 30,000 mission points, then the price for unlocking this stage will be 499 Golden Eagles. If you’ve earned 33,500 mission points, then you’ll only need 199 Golden Eagles. Keep this in mind if you cannot complete a stage on time!Tracking your progressYou can track the progress of completing stages by clicking on your Nickname > Achievements > Dreams Come True: Mistel. If you don’t manage to complete a stage on time or would like to purchase a stage, you can purchase each stage with Golden Eagles until November 14th from the Achievements window, which will give you the corresponding rewards.
The Douglas A-20 prototype first took to the skies on October 26th 1938. It served as the basis for a wide range of aircraft designed for various roles, including light bombers, attack aircraft, reconnaissance planes, and night fighters. Known by the nickname “Havoc”, the A-20 saw service with the air forces of France, Great Britain, the United States, and the USSR. The USSR received large numbers of the aircraft via the Lend-Lease program. The Havoc Mk I is temporarily available with a 30% discount! 
When: From October 26th (09:00 GMT) until October 29th (09:00 GMT).Where: Great Britain > Aviation > Premium vehicles.
  • The Havoc Mk I is available for 490 Golden Eagles. It can only be obtained during this promotion
  About these aircraft
  • The Havoc Mk I (rank II) is a highly versatile aircraft for its rank: with its speed, maneuverability, and survivability, complemented by four 500 lb bombs, four forward-firing machine guns, and two defensive machine guns, it’s capable of handling just about anything! In skilled hands, it’s more than ready to carry out multiple sorties against enemy positions.


Welcome to the 247th War Thunder Steam Screenshot Competition!

We loved getting to see all of your favorite vehicles last week! Halloween is coming soon! This week, we’re looking to see a variety of Halloween themed screenshots. Whether you want to use spooky decals, take photos in the night, or participate in the Halloween event, the choice is yours! The three most popular and three selected by us will get 300 GE. See the winners down below!

Let’s begin the 247th edition of our competition!

Create a stunning screenshot and submit it on the War Thunder Steam Community Hub with the tag #WTscreen247. You have time until the 30th of October to submit your screenshot.

After that date, 6 winners will be selected (3 of which will be the highest rated by the community and 3 selected by our judges), each of which receive a reward of 300GE.

How to Participate!

Terms:

  • Your screenshot must include the colors black and orange, or be taken at night, or be from the Halloween Event.
  • You must add the #WTscreen247 tag (title cannot have any other text in it).
  • Artists may only win by popular vote once per four screenshot competitions.
  • Screenshots need to be compliant with the War Thunder rules.
  • You need to be the author of the screenshot.
  • Screenshot needs to be new. You cannot use those which have previously been published or used in other competitions.
  • We will only accept raw screenshots from the game. You cannot use any editing software nor any other visual enhancements (like Nvidia Ansel filters).
  • You can use filters and settings built into War Thunder.
  • You can use the replay functionality built into War Thunder.
  • Rewards will be delivered to the author's account within 14 working days.


And now, time for the winners of the competition’s 246th edition – Personal Favorites!

Winners selected via community votes:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3821559682
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3821400180
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3821434442

Winners selected by our judges:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3822342574
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3823738720
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3822018772

Each winner will get 300GE! Congratulations and see you next week!
The missile used to know where it was at all times, then it took a laser in the seeker!In the upcoming major update, we’ll be releasing an overhauled version of DIRCM that addresses several shortcomings.In the game, all DIRCM currently function similarly to regular IRCM with very wide radiation sectors. This means that the jammer is always active and emitting as long as the player has IRCM enabled. It works in a fixed sector around the carrying vehicle regardless of where the threat is, and it works on many threats simultaneously.In reality, DIRCM is directional for a reason. To provide a high-powered jamming signal, it focuses the signal within a narrow field of effect, which is then directed towards threats. This applies to both lamp-based and laser-based jammers.The new implementation works the same way: turret mechanics direct a narrow jamming signal at the threat. This has several implicationsSensor cueingThe DIRCM system is now cued by the missile launch warning system. It needs to know where a threat is before engaging it, so a missile that the warning system does not detect will not be jammed.One at a timeAfter a processing delay, similar to that of active protection systems, the DIRCM system slews a jammer towards a detected threat and starts emitting a jamming signal. The jammer continues to emit until the threat is dropped. Unlike before, a single jammer can only engage one threat at a time, so firing several missiles at once can now overwhelm it.EvaluationWhen a threat veers off course or stops approaching, the jammer stops jamming after a short period. This ensures that the jammer becomes available to engage other threats.New visualsIn addition to the new gameplay effects, the overhauled DIRCM system also gets some new visuals.Jammers are now animated. Both the MUSS jammer on the Schützenpanzer Puma and the L-370 Vitebsk jammers on the Ka-52 slew towards engaged threats. In night vision mode, they also emit a strobing light effect that simulates their jamming signal. When IRCM is disabled on these vehicles, their jammers move into a stowed position.Finally, on aircraft, the RWR scope shows which threats the DIRCM system is currently engaging. A blinking JAM indicator also appears on the scope while any jammer is active.The new DIRCM mechanics will arrive with the upcoming major update. They apply to the lamp-based jammers on the Ka-52 and the Schützenpanzer Puma (all versions), as well as to the laser DIRCM (LDIRCM) on the Mi-28NM, AH-64E (all versions), Z-10ME and Mi-8AMTSh-VN. Stay tuned for more news!
On October 25th 1955, the Swedish Draken (Dragon) took to the skies for the first time. This supersonic fighter featured a unique double-delta wing design. It could confidently reach speeds of Mach 2, take off from short runways, and operate effectively in all weather conditions. It is no wonder that it remained in service until as late as 2005! The J35A Draken and Saab J35XS are available for purchase at a 50% discount! 
When: From October 23rd (13:00 GMT) until the end of in-game discounts for War Thunder’s Birthday, October 28th (11:00 GMT).Where: Sweden > Aviation > Premium vehicles.
  • The J35A (rank VI) is available for 4,545 Golden Eagles
  • The Saab J35XS (rank VII) is available for 4,635 Golden Eagles
  
  • The J35A is returning to the purchase and will remain available after the promotion ends at the regular price of 9,090 Golden Eagles.
 About these aircraft
  • The J35A is an exceptionally fast and highly maneuverable fighter. While it lacks countermeasures, its flight performance is such that this poses no issue for experienced pilots! The J35A is armed with two 30 mm cannons and can carry RB24 air-to-air missiles, m/56D unguided rockets, and a 510-liter external fuel tank on its hardpoints.
  • The J35XS is not lacking in countermeasures, though it only carries 12 of them, so they should be used sparingly. In other respects, it is similar to the J35A, except that in addition to six RB24 air-to-air missiles (equivalent to the AIM-9P), it can also carry four RB27s (equivalent to the AIM-26B) or four RB28s (equivalent to the AIM-4C).
War Thunder’s 14th anniversary is just around the corner! Get ready to celebrate with discounts on vehicles, modifications, and useful consumables, and don’t forget to extend your Premium Account time at a great price.In-game Discounts! 
When: From October 23rd (11:00 GMT) until October 28th (11:00 GMT).Where: In-game for all nations.
  • 50% discount on vehicles for all nations for Silver Lions and Golden Eagles.
  • 50% discount on all modifications, talismans and backups.
  • 50% discount for Premium Account time in-game for 90 and 365 days and in the Gaijin store for 180 days.
 
Please note: Discounts do not apply to vehicles released in the Sky Odyssey and Heavy Cavalry major updates, as well as squadron vehicles and modifications, talismans, and backups for these vehicles.
That’s not all we have in store! Stay tuned, as the War Thunder birthday celebrations are just getting started, and there’s plenty more to come!
2026 has been a year of fierce competition and unforgettable moments! The War Thunder Championship Series has continued to evolve and so have its teams. Over months of intense battles across air, ground, and combined arms formats, competitors have put their skill, teamwork, and versatility to the test.Now, eight qualified teams face their final challenge: the 2026 Grand Finals. With $15,000 in prize money on the line, the stage is set for one last showdown. Who will rise above the competition and claim the prestigious title of 2026 Grand Champion?

Before we introduce the eight finalists, let’s take a look at the season standings following this year’s three Majors!Pro League 2026 SeasonLeading the standings are DODEC, who have delivered another outstanding season, winning Major I and securing a third-place finish at Major III.Close behind are Voyager, whose rise throughout the season culminated in an impressive Major III victory. With momentum on their side, they head into the Grand Finals as serious title contenders.In third place are podium regulars AVReS, whose consistent results secured their qualification in convincing fashion. Hot on their heels are Jinx, a new name for 2026, but a roster packed with experience. Their versatility and strong performances earned them fourth-place finishes at most of this year’s Majors.FIVESTICKS finish the regular season in fifth place after delivering a thrilling performance at Major II, where they claimed second place. That event’s winners, INVICTUS, take sixth in the overall standings, with their Major II title helping secure their spot in the Grand Finals.Completing the lineup are MRCLS and LEET. Both teams boast experienced rosters, and while they enter this year’s finals as underdogs, they have every intention of shaking up the standings and fighting for the crown.We also want to congratulate LEGION, Orion, Astra, Scammers, and Ouroboros for earning points in this year’s Pro League. We look forward to seeing them return even stronger in 2027! Meet the Finalists!Team DODECStrategy, Precision, AmbitionFounded in late 2023, DODEC quickly established themselves as a powerhouse, becoming the only team to win Majors across air, ground, and combined arms formats. The 2025 Grand Finals champions approach every battle like a game of chess: strategy first, then execution.They started 2026 with a dominant Major I victory, defeating MRCLS 3–0 in the final, before adding a third-place finish at Major III. Led by Forze and banujekツ, this international roster now returns to defend its crown.Player to watch: nyffer, MVP of Major I and third in the Major III MVP rankings, a consistent threat on the ground.Roster: 
  • Forze (Captain)
  • banujekツ (Co-Captain)
  • Jツ
  • Bad_Karma옷
  • nyffer
  • Grohotarr
  • Grizer
  • Scriplet
 Team VOYAGERFrom Friends to ChampionsFounded in May 2024 by a group of friends playing for fun, VOYAGER quickly turned ambition into results, finishing the 2025 WTCS season as runners-up. Through roster changes, their founding core has remained united.Despite a challenging start to 2026, they reached the top eight at all three Majors, before claiming Major III victory in the 4v4 Tank format. Led by EinsCute, alongside co-captains Erchenn and Arseniywelcam, they enter the Grand Finals with momentum and their sights set on the crown.Player to watch: Oskar, MVP of Major III, whose patient positioning and mastery of the Abrams make him a formidable opponent.Roster: 
  • EinsCute (Captain)
  • Erchenn (Co-Captain)
  • Arseniywelcam
  • Oskar
  • chikkleXD
  • AuRusElite
  • Novaカキ
  • ミZorderミ
Team AVReSBuilt to Win EverywhereSince arriving on the scene in summer 2024, AVReS have developed into a formidable force across air and ground battles. Winners of WTCS TITAN 2025 and WTCS Armored Apex 2025, they finished third overall in the 2025 season.In 2026, they reached the playoffs at all three Majors, securing second place at Major III. With RasTafaRaY leading the tankers and isawyourunaway commanding the pilots, AVReS bring a balanced roster and a clear ambition to the Grand Finals: first place in air, ground, and combined arms.Player to watch: NeZoXi, second in the Major III MVP rankings and a key contributor to the team’s runner-up finish.Roster: 
  • RasTafaRaY (Captain)
  • isawyourunaway (Co-Captain)
  • tonyoloメ
  • zloba
  • RussianShark
  • Darthmoll
  • NeZoXi
  • _sh1mada.
Team JinXVeteran Experience, Relentless AggressionFormed after the 2025 Grand Finals by three former IgnisAvis players, JinX may be a new name, but their roster brings years of experience at the highest level of War Thunder esports. Their shared approach? Always play aggressively.A fourth-place finish at Major I set the tone for a consistent debut season, with playoff appearances at all three Majors. Led by La1R and 1N1ck, who exchange leadership duties for air battles, JinX now have their sights set on a Grand Finals podium finish. Players to watch: Delіt, a mainstay across all three formats, and EvіlWolf, the Rafale specialist in their combined arms lineup.Roster: 
  • La1R (Captain)
  • 1N1ck (Co-Captain)
  • Delіt
  • EvіlWolf
  • mortumwish
  • T1R3D
  • Kazooie_
  • MasterDelta.
Team FiveSticksThe Comeback StoryFounded in 2018, FiveSticks first made their name in propeller aircraft duels before stepping away from competition around 2020. Revived by OpsBan65_ in February 2025, the team has since become a regular presence in top-tier tournaments.Their comeback gained momentum in 2026, with playoff appearances at all three Majors and a standout second-place finish at Major II. Combining patient pilots with aggressive tankers, FiveSticks now head into the Grand Finals with a clear target: a place in the top three.Players to watch: OpsBan65_ and C0COJAMBO, who finished second and third respectively in the Major II MVP rankings. The captain behind the team’s revival is also leading by example in battle.Roster: 
  • OpsBan65_ (Captain)
  • C0COJAMBO (Co-Captain)
  • Tekilez (Co-Captain)
  • Telch2271337
  • npocto_4el
  • Frovy
  • Mister Mish
  • Криветочка
 Team Invictus Newcomers Who Conquered the Skies Bringing together experienced competitors and rising talent from six nations, Invictus built their roster around teamwork and versatility. Their debut season has already made a powerful statement.Despite missing the playoffs at Majors I and III, they soared to victory at Major II, collecting 130 points and briefly taking the lead in the season standings. That outstanding performance secured their place in the Grand Finals, where Extatic and Leozander will lead their pursuit of another title.Player to watch: Leozander, MVP of Major II, whose decisive Kh-38MT strike from a Su-30SM delivered one of the tournament’s standout moments.Roster: 
  • Extatic (Captain)
  • Leozander (Co-Captain)
  • Avoxy
  • GameThunder
  • Delva971
  • EITEA
  • Tomsenval
  • KASTET
Team MRCLS The Return of MiraclesAfter disbanding in 2025, Miracles returned for 2026 with a fresh roster and renewed ambition. Competing under the MRCLS name, they wasted no time making their presence felt.A determined lower bracket run at Major I saw them defeat LEET 3–2 to reach the grand final, where they fell to DODEC. That runner-up finish secured their Grand Finals qualification. Led by v1nnу and skyline地平, MRCLS now have another opportunity to challenge the champions who denied them the trophy.Player to watch: v1nnу, third in the Major I MVP jury vote. The captain’s aggressive MiG-29 play makes him stand out in a field dominated by Rafales. Roster: 
  • v1nnу (Captain)
  • skyline地平 (Co-Captain)
  • Sanya Kamen
  • Nefo
  • farsage
  • SieDeSta
  • Renegade
Team LEETThe Old GuardOne of the longest-standing teams in the competition, LEET bring experience, strategy, and discipline to the battlefield. Despite a difficult season, these veterans have earned their place among the eight finalists.Their third-place finish at Major I proved decisive, with their run ending in a close 3–2 defeat to MRCLS in the lower bracket final. Led by the versatile VoLKoDaV, LEET now return with a chance to settle that rivalry and one clear ambition: claim the title.Player to watch: St1merOK, whose defensive approach to BVR combat turns into outright aggression when the battle closes to dogfighting range.Roster: 
  • VoLKoDaV (Captain)
  • SYDARb
  • KIDUVL
  • St1merOK
  • DrugCat33_TV
  • Отveрниsьツ
  • РЫБАТОРГОВЕЦ
Match & Livestream Dates with Twitch Drops!
Nine days of intense competition, broadcast in five languages! Follow the Grand Finals and earn Twitch Drops by watching the official War Thunder Esports channels in English, German, French, Russian, and Polish!Missed the weekend’s action? Don’t worry! Reruns will air every Monday through Wednesday throughout the event on our English Twitch channel, giving you another chance to catch the battles!
Twitch The event will also be streamed live on YouTube, where you’ll find highlights and full match replays to relive the biggest moments of the competition!YouTube Tricolor Smoke & Unique VehiclesBoth vehicles — the Bf 109 E-3 and BT-7M — are standalone event vehicles separate from their researchable counterparts, each featuring unique default historical camouflages. Additional unique camouflages for these vehicles will also be available to earn through the drops.First weekend: October 23rd from 14:50 GMT and October 24th-25th from 13:50 GMTRerun: October 26th-28th from 17:00  GMT
  • 50% Silver Lion Booster - 30 min
  • 50% Research Point Booster - 1h
  • 1 day of Premium - 2h
  • "Vampir" camouflage for the Bf 109 E-3 (Event vehicle) - 5h
  • Bf 109 E-3 (Germany, Rank II, Event vehicle) - 10h
 Second weekend: October 30th from 14:50 GMT and October 31st , November 1st  from 13:50 GMTRerun: November 2nd-3rd from 17:00  GMT
  • 50% Silver Lion Booster - 30 min
  • 50% Research Point Booster - 1h
  • 1 day of Premium - 2h
  • "Scarlet Razor" camouflage for the BT-7M (Event vehicle) - 5h
  • BT-7M (USSR, Rank I, Event vehicle) - 10h
Third weekend: November 6th from 14:50 GMT and November 7th-8th from 13:50 GMTRerun: November 9th-11th from 17:00 GMT
  • 50% Silver Lion Booster - 30 min
  • 50% Research Point Booster - 1h
  • 1 day of Premium - 2h
  • "WTCS Grand Finals" camouflage for the T-34-85 (STP) - 4h *
  • "WTCS Grand Finals" camouflage for the M-24 TL - 6h *
  • "WTCS Grand Finals" camouflage for the P-51A - 8h *
  • Tri-Color Smoke - 10h
*If you already have this camouflage, you can exchange the coupon for 100 War Bonds.Login to your Twitch account → link your Gaijin account → click “Allow” to be able to receive Twitch Drops!Giveaway!Stay updated on everything happening in War Thunder Esports by joining our Discord community! Premium bundles will soon be up for grabs there!And more giveaways are coming to Instagram, so stay tuned!
  • Be Prepared!" Pack
  • Arado 234 B-2 (WB 151) Pack
  • A-7E Greece Pack
  • Hawk T Mk 1A (FRP) Pack
  • PLZ45 Pack
  • Giulio Cesare Pack
Esports Bundle - 2026 SeasonTo get to our online Store through Steam, go to the in-game hangar > Shop > Online Store.This pack includes:
  • Esports Veteran Pack - Season 2026
  • Winter Warrior Esports Pack - Season 2026
15.98 13.58
Meet the Stingray II, a further development of the American Commando Stingray light tank! Stingray II: A Premium (Pre-order) Light Tank for the US at Rank VIAt a glance:
  • Thermal imager
  • DM33 rounds
  • Improved armor protection
  • Good mobility
  • Low reverse speed
Pre-order — Stingray II PackTo get to the Gaijin Store through Steam, go to the in-game hangar > Shop > Online Store.This pack includes:
  • Stingray II (Rank VI, USA)
  • Premium account for 15 days
  • 2000 Golden Eagles
  • Pre-order bonus: unique “Sting like a ray” title
  • Pre-order bonus: unique "Bluespotted ribbontail ray" decal
59.99Introducing the Stingray IIHi everyone! Today, pre-orders for the Stingray II light tank have started! This light vehicle is nimble and fast with a wide range of ammunition. Let’s take a closer look at what you can expect! Using the Stingray II in BattleRight, as you might expect, the Stingray successfully combines all of the key qualities of a modern light tank. It has a high power-to-weight ratio making it fast and nimble in battle, with a top speed of 71 km/h, allowing you to reach advantageous positions in a jiffy. To help maintain good fire control, the Stingray II features a stabilized 105 mm gun, capable of firing strong APFSDS rounds, allowing it to effortlessly penetrate the side armor of any opponent at its rank. If you’d prefer long range sniping, the Stingray II has a thermal imager that makes spotting targets significantly easier, plus a laser rangefinder that provides instant range adjustments, even at really far distances. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows though, as the Stingray II does have one major drawback. It reverses slowly, which will hinder your ability to quickly retreat into cover after taking a shot. Keep this in mind when you’re on the attack.Feature Spotlight: The Ideal Light Tank FormulaThe Stingray II is a direct evolution of the Commando Stingray light tank, designed for the export market. Its most significant upgrade over its predecessor is the addition of a thermal imager to the gun. This allows for target detection in any weather, which is significant given its role as a mobile light tank. Its armor is not perfect, but the enhanced protection is another key advantage of the Stingray II. Its front armor can withstand fire from several small-caliber automatic cannons. Compared to the Commando Stingray, its side protection has also been improved, though it does remain vulnerable to heavy machine gun fire. Furthermore, a new engine compensates for the increased weight, making the Stingray II slightly faster than the original version.Developer comment: The Stingray II will be the first American rank VI premium light tank. Overall, while it does not differ drastically from the original version, it provides American commanders with a solid premium scout vehicle for their rank VI lineup: one that will help accelerate the research of all vehicles up to and including rank VII.Vehicle HistoryIn 1992, the American company Cadillac Gage (now a division of Textron Marine & Land Systems) initiated the development of the Stingray II, a light export tank that evolved from the earlier Commando Stingray model designed in the 1980s. The original Commando Stingray was produced for the Royal Thai Army. Improvements for the new version focused primarily on enhanced protection and increased combat capabilities, achieved through the integration of a modern fire-control system.The first and only prototype of the Stingray II was built in 1994. It was actively marketed for export to various countries but ultimately failed to secure any orders. By around 2000, Cadillac Gage ceased efforts to promote the tank on the international market.That’s all for this one! Pre-orders for the Stingray II have started today, where you’ll be able to get yourself the tank, Golden Eagles and premium account time. Until the next blog, have fun in your battles!Please note that vehicle specifications may be subject to revision and change before being added to the game.
On October 20th 1956, the UH-1C, one of the most iconic helicopters in history made its maiden flight. The Huey gained fame during the Vietnam War, where it provided fire support, assisted with resupply missions, transported troops, and evacuated the wounded. This versatile helicopter also found extensive use in peacetime; in total, more than 16,000 UH-1 units were built and operated by dozens of countries around the world. The UH-1C XM-30 is temporarily available for purchase with a 30% discount for 6,237 for Golden Eagles! 
When: From October 22nd (11:00 GMT) until October 26th (11:00 GMT).Where: USA > Helicopters > Premium vehicles.
  • The UH-1C XM-30 can only be purchased during this promotion.
 About this helicopter
  • The UH-1C XM-30 variant differs from other versions of the helicopter in that it has access to 30 mm XM140 cannons. It can also be equipped with an M75 40 mm grenade launcher, an M134 7.62 mm machine gun, FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets and BGM-71C Improved TOW missiles. While not the fastest helicopter, it is highly maneuverable and capable of carrying a significant payload.
Hey everyone! Today we thought we’d put together a small blog about some of the new decals we’ve been working on! Over the last few updates and into the near future as well we’ll be adding new decals for nations and branches that currently don’t have any. This also includes the modern era of some nations that predominantly only have WW2 era decals available. First though, let’s start with some new national insignia coming to the game in the next update!Oh crikey it’s the Albanian roundels!Albanian Air Force Roundel (1992-)Albanian Air Force Roundel (1960–1992)And many more of course! All of these new roundels we’ll be adding were all requested on the forum, so thanks for that. Here’s a handful of some of the new additions.Irish Air Corps Roundel (1954 -)Indian Air Force Roundel (1950 -)Czech Air Force Roundel (Low-Vis)Next we have some variants of existing roundels, previously we only had the earlier versions available, so we’re pleased to introduce the more well-known contemporary variants of the Irish and Indian roundels, as well as the low-vis variant of the Czech Air Force RoundelLuxembourg Army Aviation RoundelSerbian Air Force RoundelPeople's Army of Vietnam Vehicle RoundelWe also have some brand new roundels, and quite a few more too that you’ll see in the next update. Even though Luxembourg don’t have any aircraft in game, we’re happy to include their unique emblem for you to customize your vehicles with. It’s about time the Serbian Roundel was added too, and Vietnam’s vehicle recognition roundel.JGSDF Markings2nd Anti-aircraft Company, 7th Anti-Aircraft Regiment Emblem2nd Tank Regiment Emblem15th Rapid Deployment Regiment EmblemEven though we often add more modern ground markings for Japan through monthly decal events, they don’t have any that are permanently available. In the next major update we’ll be adding a handful that you’ll be able to unlock, have a look!Thai Ground Vehicle Markings19th Cavalry Battalion Emblem2nd Cavalry Battalion Emblem13th Cavalry Battalion EmblemWe’ll also be adding a series of decals for the ground vehicles of Thailand! While these emblems depict fairly typical subjects, they’re very intricately detailed and thoughtfully designed, we hope you like using them to customize your vehicles!We’re also planning on adding a set of unlockable decals for Greek ground vehicles as well, those are still a work in progress at the moment, but they should be finished in time for the update!That’s all for today! Thanks for catching up on the work of the decal team, we’re always glad to add more authentic decals and emblems to War Thunder. Keep checking in for more devblogs on upcoming vehicles and features, and we’ll see you soon!
On October 21st 1910, on the anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar, the cruiser HMCS Niobe arrived in Halifax, becoming the first ship of the newly established Canadian Navy. Since then, Canadian sailors have celebrated this day as their professional holiday. The Canadian Navy escorted convoys during the Second World War and patrolled the North Atlantic during the Cold War. Canada was one of the few countries to possess aircraft carriers: from 1948 to 1957, it was the HMCS Magnificent, which was then replaced by the HMCS Bonaventure, which remained in service until 1970.HMCS Haida is temporarily available for a 30% discount at 3,416 Golden Eagles! 
When: From October 21st (13:00 GMT) until October 24th (13:00 GMT).Where: Great Britain > Bluewater fleet > Premium vehicles.
  • HMCS Haida can only be purchased during this promotion.
 About this destroyer
  • HMCS Haida saw combat during both the Second World War and the Korean War. This destroyer can carry two depth charges and four 533 mm torpedoes into battle. The ship’s main armament consists of six 120 mm guns, but the real stars here are the anti-aircraft weapons: four 40 mm autocannons and six twin 20 mm Oerlikon mounts. Provide cover for your allies and lead your team to victory!
On October 21st 1805, off Cape Trafalgar, the British fleet under Admiral Nelson decisively defeated the combined French and Spanish fleet commanded by Admiral Villeneuve. Britain did not lose a single ship of the line, while the majority of the enemy vessels were sunk or captured. The battle thwarted Napoleon’s planned invasion of Britain and ensured that Great Britain remained the master of the seas throughout the 19th century.30% Discount on the HMS Nelson Pack in the Gaijin.Net Store!From October 21st (11:00 GMT) until October 24th (11:00 GMT), HMS Nelson is available with a 30% discount!To get to the Gaijin Store through Steam, go to the in-game hangar > Shop > Online Store.HMS Nelson Pack79.99 55.99This bundle includes:
  • HMS Nelson (Rank VI, Great Britain)
  • Premium account for 30 days
  • 3000 Golden Eagles
The Fairmile D (5001), HMS Belfast, and HMS Iron Duke are available at a 30% discount!
When: From October 21st (11:00 GMT) until October 24th (11:00 GMT).Where: Great Britain > Bluewater fleet > Premium vehicles.
  • HMS Belfast (rank IV) for 5,614 Golden Eagles
  • HMS Iron Duke (rank V) for 5,866 Golden Eagles
 
When: From October 19th (12:00 GMT) until October 26th (12:00 GMT).Where: Great Britain > Coastal fleet  > Premium vehicles.
  • Fairmile D (5001) (rank III) for 910 Golden Eagles. This boat is only available to purchase until October 26th at a 30% discount.
 About these vessels
  • The Fairmile D (5001) is a torpedo boat that saw combat during the final stages of the Second World War. While quite vulnerable, its low weight gives it decent speed and maneuverability. It is armed with two 57 mm main guns, two 20 mm autocannons, and four 12.7 mm and four 7.7 mm anti-aircraft machine guns; it can also carry four torpedoes and two depth charges into battle.
  • HMS Belfast is a veteran of the Second World War and Korean War, and is now a popular London landmark. In the game, she appears in her 1959 refit configuration, meaning she lacks torpedoes but boasts excellent anti-aircraft defenses. She features a formidable main battery of twelve 152 mm guns across four turrets, along with solid protection for her ammunition magazines.
  • HMS Iron Duke served as the flagship of the Grand Fleet during the Battle of Jutland. She inflicted serious damage on the German battleship SMS König and drove off destroyers attempting daylight torpedo attacks. The HMS Iron Duke herself sustained no damage during the engagement. Like many other battleships of the era, she lacks adequate anti-aircraft protection but boasts substantial armor and powerful armament, featuring ten 343 mm main-battery guns and twelve 152 mm secondary-battery guns.
Get the “Nelson quote, 21 Oct. 1805” decal!“Nelson quote, 21 Oct. 1805” decal
When: From October 21st (11:00 GMT) until October 24th (11:00 GMT).Task: Earn 3,000 mission points in battles where you used a British Coastal or Bluewater vessel at rank III or higher to receive the “Nelson quote, 21 Oct. 1805” decal! Please note: After finishing the task, you need to collect the reward manually. Additional details:
  • You can complete the task in random battles, except for \ mode.
  • Track your progress in the hangar by clicking Nickname → Achievements → Holidays → Battle of Trafalgar Day.
  • You can find the decal in the “Holidays” tab in the customization menu.
 
Today, we’ve rounded up and will be covering some of the fixes and improvements that we’ve made to the game today and over the past weeks. If you’d like to catch up on every fixed bug, then be sure to check out the changelog section on our website. If you’ve found a bug that you’d like to report, you can do so on our community bug reporting platform. Shadow fixesSeveral issues related to shadows have been fixed, affecting both ray-traced shadows and those rendered using shadow maps. When ray tracing was enabled, shadows on flying aircraft might have flickered, which was most visible in the cockpit. This occurred because if the plane was flying too fast, it outpaced the ray tracing optimization grid, and as it was not able to keep up with the plane, it was optimized out from the ray tracing rendering space. The bug has now been fixed, and the shadows on your plane should no longer flicker. Two issues with regular shadows have been fixed. The first concerned distant shadows, most noticeable on aircraft, where the algorithm calculating shadows for trees at a distance failed to account for the fact that they might be situated on slopes. This caused the shadows to appear either excessively long or, conversely, too short. The algorithm now factors this in, preventing significant shifts in shadow appearance as you approach trees on slopes (which occurs when the rendering algorithm switches to a higher-detail one). The second issue, which occurred only when the shadow quality was set to “Very High”, was related to tank sights. When switching to the sight view, the shadow draw distance increases; due to an error during this transition between the distances at which different levels of shadow detail render, shadows calculated while in third-person view were incorrectly processed for use in the sight view. This could result in shadows failing to appear entirely until the next full shadow refresh, which would happen a few frames later. This bug has now been resolved, so shadows should no longer flicker when switching to the sight view. Recycling items bug fix We found two bugs that could make it difficult for players to recycle items and have fixed them. One was visual: the list of items when changing pages could be displayed so that interface details like the recycling button were superimposed on top of it. The second issue caused a smaller number of items to be recycled than the quantity specified by the player. While the correct amount of resources was consumed (meaning less was used than the player had initially indicated), the bug slowed down the process. Collapsing vehicle ranksWe’ve received several reports from players who encountered issues in the research window: after collapsing a vehicle rank, they found that research for those vehicles appeared locked, and they weren’t sure how to restore the standard interface. We’ve updated this feature to make it immediately clear what has happened and how to resolve it. Now, when you hover your cursor over a collapsed vehicle rank, a tooltip will appear, indicating that you can expand it with a click. You don’t even need to look for a specific “expand” button, as you can simply click anywhere within that rank section. We’ve also updated the icons for the collapse/expand controls and added labels, so there’s no chance of getting confused! Vehicle preset improvementsPlayers who have been playing War Thunder for a long time have accumulated quite a few vehicle presets for each nation, and we wanted to make managing these lineups as convenient as possible. That’s why we’ve recently reworked the preset managing interface and today have made a few improvements to it. Now, when you copy a preset, you don’t have to scroll to the end of the list to find it; the copy appears right after the original, making it easy to keep them grouped together. Furthermore, the display filters for presets now also apply to the list within the vehicle lineup menu. For example, if you’ve chosen to hide the Battle Rating for your lineups, it will now be hidden in that menu as well. That’s not allCheck out the full list of fixes and improvements in the update notes below! Here’s some more: the icons for creating and copying vehicle presets no longer disappear when the limit is reached, and a neutral-gear turn is no longer slowed down in tanks in the Leopard and Type 90 families.Previous Updates:Today's Update 2.59.0.78Aircraft
  • JAS39A, JAS39C (UK), JAS39EBS HU C (Italy), JAS39C (Japan) — separate countermeasure launch from fuselage-mounted dispensers has been added. (Report).
  • F-111A — the countermeasures caliber has been changed from standard to larger caliber. (Report).
  • F-14D — an issue where a text key was displayed on the aircraft’s HUD when the AIM-54A was selected has been fixed. (Report).
  • J-16 — night vision has been added to the cockpit and third-person views. (Report).
  • A fix to the IRST HMS guidance has been reverted because it was affecting mouse sensitivity.
 Ground Vehicles
  • 106 mm recoilless rifle M40A1 and its derivatives — the caliber of the grenades has been decreased from 106 mm to 105 mm. (Report).
  • M15 CGMC — the mass of the M59A1 shell has been decreased from 870 g to 866 g, and its ballistics have been recalculated. (Report, Report).
 Interface
  • The display of the option to expand a vehicle rank in the research window has been improved. A collapsed rank can now be expanded by clicking anywhere within its area; furthermore, hovering the cursor over a collapsed rank will highlight it and display a tooltip. The icons for the rank collapse/expand buttons have been updated. The button used to collapse or expand all ranks now features a permanently visible label.
  • In the preset selection window, the buttons for copying and creating presets no longer disappear when the limit for custom presets is reached; instead, they become inactive, and clicking them triggers a tooltip indicating that the limit has been reached.
  • Display filters for vehicle presets now also affect the display of the list within the vehicle presets menu.
  • When a preset is copied, it is now placed right after the original preset and not at the very end of the list.
  • An issue where, when crafting items from recycled materials, the number of items crafted could be lower than the number requested by the player has been fixed.
  • An issue where the recycle button in the item recycling window could overlap with the list of items has been fixed.
  • An issue where the window for allocating squadron research points to vehicles could appear, instead of the points being applied automatically to the currently selected squadron vehicle has been fixed.
CCRP Bombing, now simple and easy to understand!In the upcoming major update, we’ve reworked the controls for CCRP (Constantly Computed Release Point) bombing. The previous mechanic was sufficient when CCRP was a niche tool used by only the most experienced pilots. However with the introduction of Nuclear Escalation, using the automated system to drop nuclear bombs, CCRP has become the primary method for delivering a nuclear strike. The old interface however does have some drawbacks. We’ve redesigned the system so that it no longer interferes with standard bomb dropping or clutters half the screen.What were the current drawbacks? The bomb-release button was used for both CCRP and manual release, causing the two functions to conflict. Once CCRP bombing mode was enabled, it was no longer possible to drop a bomb manually. This is a big problem when dealing with nuclear weapons in Nuclear Escalation. Plus, the option to arm the release mechanism at the start of a run would completely break manual release if a target point had been set using the optical sight. Players would only discover this at the worst possible moment, right when they needed to drop their payload. Lastly, the on-screen indicators took up too much space, and the requirement to hold down the release button proved highly inconvenient.The new version addresses all of these issues. It requires no dedicated button, does not conflict with the standard release function, and uses a simple, uncluttered display. The auto-release indicator is now positioned within the battlefield view in a way that does not obstruct visibility. Manual bomb release is now possible, even when a point of interest is active. We aimed to ensure the mechanic works predictably, eliminating any guesswork regarding why a bomb might fail to release from a pylon. CCRP bombing is now more convenient across level flight, dives, and pull-up maneuvers. In the latter case (toss bombing), the indicator sticks to the bottom of the screen, allowing for continued monitoring of timing and heading.For those just learning the ropes of CCRP bombing, here’s a quick refresher on how it works. CCRP allows you to drop bombs on a pre-designated point on the ground, even if you cannot see it directly. By designating a target (using the “Activate Point of Interest” button, default key: Alt + Middle Mouse Button or MMB click on a minimap), a red targeting box appears on the ground at that location. Activate the automatic release icon (found in the quick-action panel) or assign a dedicated keybind in the control settings menu. A vertical directional arrow appears in the target point, complete with the required heading, the deviation of the current heading from the set value, and an indication of the time remaining until target. Once the automatic release indicator aligns with the crosshairs of the bombsight, the system will automatically release the bomb at the right moment. If the deviation from the course is significant, the release will not occur; the indicator will remain gray and will display the current course deviation. You can use the weapon selector (Caps Lock or Left Shift + S) to choose which bombs to drop and in what quantity, whether a single bomb, a pair, or a salvo (the quantity selector is bound to Left Shift + B by default).1. Automatic release icon2. Bomb sight3. Point of interest4. Arrow is green - course is correct5. Remaining time to targetUpdated controls for CCRP bombing will arrive in the game in the next major update. Stay tuned for more news. Bombs away!
Welcome to the 16th edition of the War Thunder Steam Community Spotlight!The War Thunder Steam Community Management Team have seen some of your fantastic screenshots and artwork uploaded to the Steam Community Hub! Once again, we’ve collected our favorites and wanted to share them with all of you. Want more? Also check out the previous editions for more cool content.If you have a scale model to showcase, make sure to show the same vehicle in the background in War Thunder!
We have also picked our favorites from the list below to receive the special “Steam Snail” decal. Check Customization > Special > Snails > “Steam Snail” to see if you have it.



Let’s take a look!First up, here we have a wonderfully drawn pencil sketch of the F-16. The shadows and details, especially the cockpit glare, are really well done. Good job Trahenwaffen!Here we have another really well drawn Bf 109 G-10 by 流刃若火! The details are exceptional, we’re really impressed with this one. Keep up the good work.This is Lieutenant Hammy ready for their flight! Nice photo CaptainJssl, we love your hamster!This is Lavochkin’s brick-built Corsair with War Thunder’s in the background. This looks really cool, especially the string for the wire. Great job.Check out Felipe’s drawing of a Bf 109, which looks like it just took out a bomber. Excellent drawing here, great work! In our eyes, this is such a great screenshot by 𝓢𝓪𝓶𝓼𝓸𝓷<3! The lighting and sunset make it look great. Well done here! Here’s a great model of the Yak-130 by ✮𝕒𝕟𝕕𝕤𝕖𝕣𝕜! It looks identical to War Thunder’s one!This is a great model of the Su-27SM by Br0nzky, showing War Thunder’s one in the background as well.Here’s a cool bit of art by “is Dimon” showing off the F/A-18 with a bombing target over what looks like a War Thunder map. Great piece! Check out Председатель’s Me 262 A1 "Green 1" model with War Thunder’s in the background. Great work on the colors and stripes on the fuselage!Is this good or bad luck? Anyway, this is a cool keyring of the 500% booster in War Thunder by Cosmos.We’ve previously shown Jones’ Gaijin Snail, but now he has a friend made by Mom! This is a model of the French Mirage F1C-200 with War Thunder’s in the background. Looks cool 近卫汉城柳京守第105师!Here’s a Merkava model by MichelangeloDaVinci, which they’ve tried to keep as accurate as possible to War Thunder’s. Looks well done, nice work!
This is an amazing pencil drawing of one of War Thunder’s artwork covers from the Line of Contact major update. The team who made this artwork love this pencil drawing, created by LPDW!That's all for now!
The wonderful work created by our community that we have shared has been posted to the War Thunder Community Hub — make sure you check it out and even share your own creations that we may feature here in the Community Spotlight! We look forward to seeing you next time!

Click here to view the Community Hub