Gaijin Entertainment said War Thunder Infantry is heading into its third CBT phase in a Steam announcement, and this round brings a new map, larger battles, and a long list of system changes.
Kivu, set in Central Africa, is the centerpiece. Gaijin says it is the largest map used in Infantry CBT so far, at roughly four times the size of earlier locations, and the studio plans to run 64-vs-64 sessions so 128 players can load into the same match. Both factions will also get fresh gear and new character looks built for the setting, plus a curated weapon pool that leaves pistols, shotguns, drones, RPGs, and MANPADS out of the basic lineup.
Arcade Battles are coming back for this phase, but the marker system is being tightened up. Markers should no longer appear through bushes or at long range, and they are meant to point to enemies a player can already see rather than reveal targets that are still hidden. Gaijin also says heavier soldiers will move faster here than they do in Realistic Battles, which should give the mode a quicker feel.
The new mission type on Kivu will use five capture points and its own rules. One of the bigger tests is spawning at captured points, so teams can drop back into the fight closer to the front if the feature holds up. The studio is also testing a separate UAV control range setting, transport that helps squads reach key spots faster, and a passenger vehicle that can carry up to five soldiers, with the option to slide from a passenger seat into the driver’s seat if needed.
The phase is not just about map scale and movement. War Thunder Infantry is also getting a dedicated graphics tab for infantry modes, while Granitograd and Al-Massa are receiving location fixes for object placement, destruction, and material penetration. On top of that, the update brings new camouflage patterns for select weapons, revised class loadouts, a reworked grenade throw, an alternate grip option, a concussion effect from nearby explosions, a double-respawn experiment, and several animation and bipod fixes. Gaijin says a detailed change list will be posted for closed beta participants. A recent 2.57.0.35 patch shows how busy War Thunder updates have been alongside this test.
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War Thunder
Developed by Gaijin Entertainment
War Thunder is the most comprehensive free-to-play, cross-platform, MMO military game dedicated to aviation, armored vehicles, and naval craft, from the early 20th century to the most advanced modern combat units. Join now and take part in major battles on land, in the air, and at sea.
- Genre: Shooter, Simulator, Tactical
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Mac, Xbox One
- Modes: Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative, Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO)
- Release: 2013-01-28
- Publisher: Gaijin Entertainment
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Age Rating:
PEGI 12 / USK 12 / CERO B / ACB PG / GRAC 12+ / ESRB T
- IGDB Rating: 74.2/100
