War Thunder’s Next Major Update Plans Include New UI Tools and a Lower-BR Nuclear Escalation Test
The August 18 community post also made the SPEEDLIMIT aircraft decal available through September 1 at 09:00 GMT.
Gaijin Entertainment used its August 18, 2026 Community Update No. 12 to outline several features planned for War Thunder’s next major update. The post covers a lower-Battle-Rating Nuclear Escalation test, new hangar and map tools, additional aircraft and ground vehicles, and ongoing work to make bombers more durable.
These features are still in development, so Gaijin noted that some could change, be delayed, or be cancelled before release. The full announcement is available in the August 18 Steam announcement.
A free decal and August events
War Thunder players can claim the SPEEDLIMIT decal by activating the code SPEEDLIMIT on the Gaijin activation page. After logging in, the decal can be found under Decals > Special > Other.
The code remains active from the announcement date until September 1 at 09:00 GMT. The next Silver Lion chest is planned for the last full week of August, August 24–30, and the next two vehicle events will focus on an aircraft followed by a tank. Gaijin has not shared hints for either event.
Work-in-progress updates will continue alongside dev blogs
Gaijin said its new Work-In-Progress series has received a positive response. The posts show vehicles and other content at an early stage, but they will not replace regular developer blogs. Vehicles that are further along with their textures, models, and characteristics may still receive a standard dev blog, including vehicles previously shown through the WIP format.
The first four WIP posts covered the AW159 Wildcat, PLZ45, CA-27, and M7.
Bomber damage models are being rebuilt
Gaijin is working through historical documentation covering attacks on different aircraft parts as it develops the first stages of a new bomber damage model. The intended result is greater survivability and more time for bombers to remain active in a match.
Under the planned changes, bombers should not lose wings or control surfaces during brief passes from weapons firing 12.7 mm or smaller rounds. The work will take place in several stages, and Gaijin plans to share more details as development continues.
Nuclear Escalation heads toward a lower-BR test
The next Nuclear Escalation test will use a Vietnam-era, or 1970s, setting built around vehicles in the 8.7–11.0 Battle Rating range. Guided weapons will be limited. Air defense will use S-75 and Hawk surface-to-air missile systems, while battlefield air defense will rely on guns.
Aircraft in the test will also have access to early anti-radiation missiles, including the AGM-45, AS-37, and Kh-27. Only this variant will appear during the test so the team can collect focused feedback on the era and its systems.
Gaijin said each test brings Nuclear Escalation closer to becoming a permanent mode, with a launch possible as early as the next major update. Recent work has already adjusted the mode’s matchmaking and added an early-era 12.0–13.0 bracket in War Thunder Update 2.57.1.48.
The team is also upgrading almost all of Nuclear Escalation’s ground assets, including vehicles and air defense systems. Many currently use simpler models than researchable vehicles, but the replacements are being built with more detailed models and textures.
Planned changes for the next major update
Ground and Naval Battles will award J-out destruction credit
Leaving a ground vehicle or ship by pressing J will begin awarding a reduced destruction reward to the nearest enemy, extending a system that has existed in Air Battles for years. The search radius will be 3 km for a ground vehicle and 20 km for a ship.
If no enemy is inside the relevant radius, the credit can go to the enemy player whose ammunition is closest within that radius. If there is neither an eligible enemy nor ammunition, no player will receive the destruction credit.
Hangar menus will expose more mode options
A new mode dropdown in the hangar will make submodes easier to find. Gaijin specifically pointed to night battles, which currently sit behind additional menus, as one option that should become easier to access.
The preset interface is also being redesigned. A dropdown on the left will replace the current presets window while retaining tools for adding, rearranging, naming, and deleting presets. Horizontal scrolling will help players manage larger collections, particularly on smaller resolutions.
Presets will be able to display their game mode and Battle Rating automatically. Players can choose a short or long display, or turn the information off. The text will update when the mode, vehicles, or Battle Rating changes, and hovering over a preset will show its lineup without loading it first.
Sensor View and battle maps will show more information
Replay analysis will gain a controllable top-down view inside Sensor View. Pressing M while using Sensor View will open the view, which can be moved and zoomed like the map. Players will also be able to select vehicles and ammunition to inspect their parameters.
Regular Air, Ground, and Naval Battles will receive map tooltips as well. Once enabled, the tooltips can identify objects such as respawn bases and allied vehicles when the cursor is placed over them.
New aircraft and ground vehicles are planned
The Israeli aviation tree will receive its first rank IX jet, along with other additions that Gaijin has not detailed yet. The US aviation tree will also gain a researchable F-14D based on the premium version’s loadouts and performance, though it will include alternative skins.
For Ground Battles, the M103 series will receive a model update to correct inaccuracies and improve its appearance. The T58 hull model will receive related work because of its similarities to the M103. Gaijin also plans to add a new Indonesian ground vehicle and the first Greek ground vehicle in the game.
New MFDs and a Falklands ground map are in development
New multifunction displays are being created for the MiG-21, F-104, Mirage F1, and T-2/F-1 using official documents. The Ka-52 will receive a new MFD based on photographs and video references.
Finally, Ground Battles will receive a Falklands map called Darwin Hill. Following the earlier Falklands Air Battles map, the new location will feature open terrain, rolling hills, green vegetation, and cover built around the island’s houses and vehicles. Gaijin said it created new assets for the map to match the setting.
Which of these planned War Thunder features would you like to see arrive first? Share your thoughts in the comments, and follow us on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, Steam, and Telegram.
War Thunder
Developed by Gaijin Entertainment
War Thunder is a free-to-play vehicular combat MMO featuring aircraft, ground vehicles, and naval craft spanning from the early 20th century to the modern era. Players progress through technology trees across multiple nations, unlocking increasingly advanced military vehicles. The game offers three realism tiers for each vehicle type: arcade, realistic, and simulator modes. Originally developed as a flight simulator under the name "World of Planes," the game expanded to include tanks in 2014 and naval forces later, becoming a combined-arms experience. A mobile version was released in 2023.
- Genre Shooter, Simulator, Tactical
- Platforms Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Mac, Xbox One
- Perspective First person, Third person, Virtual Reality
- Modes Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative, Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO)
- Release January 28, 2013
- Publisher Gaijin Entertainment
-
Age Rating
