War Thunder Opens PLZ45 Pre-Orders for Its Next Major Update

War Thunder opened pre-orders for the PLZ45 on August 26, giving China its first premium self-propelled gun. The Rank IV vehicle will become available with the upcoming major update, although Gaijin Entertainment has not announced a release date for that update. The developer detailed the pack in its Steam announcement.

The pre-order follows Gaijin’s earlier work-in-progress presentation, which we covered in our report on the planned premium PLZ45. The vehicle is now ready for its eventual addition to the Chinese ground forces lineup.

What the PLZ45 brings to War Thunder

The PLZ45 is built around a long-barreled 155 mm howitzer and carries three ammunition types: high-explosive shells, HE-VT rounds with a proximity fuze, and semi-armor-piercing shells. Its good mobility should help it reach firing positions, but the vehicle’s light armor leaves little room for mistakes.

There is no laser rangefinder onboard, so accurate fire depends on judging distance and recognizing weak points on enemy vehicles. A well-placed shell can still deal severe damage, giving skilled gunners a way to punish exposed targets from range.

Gaijin describes the PLZ45 as an option between the PLZ83 and PLZ05 self-propelled guns. Its gun has better ballistics than the PLZ83, while its reload is slower than the PLZ05. The vehicle should fit into several Chinese lineups spanning Ranks IV and V.

What comes with the PLZ45 pre-order

The pack is listed at 39.99. Steam players can reach the Gaijin Store from the in-game hangar by selecting Shop > Online Store.

• PLZ45 (Rank IV, China)
• Premium account for 7 days
• 1,000 Golden Eagles
• Pre-order bonus: “Fighting for justice” title
• Pre-order bonus: “PLA Artillery Badge” decal

Gaijin has warned that the PLZ45’s vehicle specifications may still change before it enters the game. For now, the pack offers Chinese ground forces players a new premium artillery option ahead of the next major update.

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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

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