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War Thunder invites you to fight historical battles
War Thunder's WW2 Chronicles event series is now in its fourth week, according to a news blurb on the game's official website. Chronicles "invites players to participate in events that will involve all modes of difficulty," Gaijin explains. "Historical lineups, new scenarios, and a description of each event will enable you to fully explore the possibility of a virtual reconstruction of a real battle in the sky and on the ground in War Thunder." Today's event takes place in Eastern Europe, with the Mediterranean and Pacific theaters scheduled to see some action later this week. Don't forget to watch the associated video after the break.
War Thunder's Steel Generals expansion beta is live
War Thunder, Gaijin Entertainment's WWII-flavored MMO, updated with its Steel Generals patch this week, just ahead of the holidays. It includes new vehicles, tow cable mechanics, retooled artillery strikes, and new damage modeling. Gamers can also jump into three new maps: White Stone Fortress for air and ground battles, an Eastern Europe map with "varied open ground and urban terrain features," and the massive air-combat Battle for Moscow, which reconstructs the city during the Winter Campaign of 1941-1942. The Steel Generals content, however, "steals" the show: The biggest addition to War Thunder with this update is the beta of the Steel Generals expansion, which includes the first six American tanks available now. By the end of Q1 2015, more than 30 US WWII tanks will be available. This release schedule allows Gaijin Entertainment to test each of the tanks to ensure that they are ready for battle when commercially launched. In honor of the update launch, special packages are available for purchase that contain premium US tanks and other bonuses alongside closed beta access. Players can participate in the Steel Generals beta by entering into contests and in-game events in War Thunder. Check out the new screenshots and walkthrough video below.
War Thunder prepares to roll out Steel Generals
Do you enjoy being able to roll around on the ground in War Thunder while taking out anything on the business end of your tank's main guns? Good! The game's next update is giving you new ways to do just that. War Thunder: Steel Generals is due out by the end of the year and is aimed at spicing up the ground game with the addition of US military hardware to the game's lineup. How many pieces of hardware, exactly? Try 30 new tanks and AA units from the appropriate time period. It's exactly the sort of update that can appeal to players who like the game so far but feel it just doesn't feature quite enough tanks. No specific release date has yet been announced, but it's due out before the end of the year, so you won't have to wait long to get your US-based tank on. [Source: Gaijin Entertainment press release]
Gaijin on the creation of War Thunder's Victory is Ours short film
Remember that spiffy War Thunder short film that we watched earlier this month? Gaijin has published a blog post that gives a little background on its creation. The script came together rather quickly, and Ukrainian studio Postmodern was chosen to handle filming duties which were then completed near Kiev in "a record two-day shoot." Gaijin says that an additional half day was spent on a studio stage, and that the abbreviated process was helped along by the fact that the entire film was "pre-visualized and made in a 3-D sketch." The company also says that more details on the making of Victory is Ours will be forthcoming.
This live action War Thunder trailer looks pretty expensive
Gaijin Entertainment, the Russian studio behind War Thunder, has released a live action trailer commemorating the Eastern Front conflict between Russian and German forces during World War II. The clip, titled Victory is Ours, debuted at last weekend's Russian Comic Con. Fortunately you don't have to travel to Soviet Russia to view it, as we've embedded it just beyond the cut.
The Daily Grind: What did you accomplish in your games this weekend?
This past weekend I played a little Marvel Heroes, a lot of Space Engineers, a bit of War Thunder, and a few other things that I can't justify writing about on an MMO site. I gained some Storm levels in MH and got a few nice drops, but I had the most fun building up my outpost in SE and inviting a friend into my game to serve as my mining slave help me design and craft a few essentials. What about you, Massively readers? What did you accomplish in your MMOs or multiplayer games over the weekend? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
Star Conflict launches September 4th
Sci-fi space sim MMO Star Conflict has today announced its official launch date: September 4th. The EVE-like soft-launched as an open beta title on Steam last year; this formal release will include a special invasion mode still currently in closed beta. What's invasion mode? Invasion Mode features an underlying story in which an alien race that disappeared into another dimension of space and time has now returned to invade and conquer. Players must team up in parties of four to explore the new 'Open Space' area and combine forces as they take on new quests and engage in PvP and PvE battles. These new activities provide new loot, which players can use to construct unique armament options and protection for their spaceships. While the game is ostensibly free-to-play, it offers half a dozen purchaseable DLC packs running from $19.99 to $79.99. [Source: Press release]
War Thunder aiming for 360-degree panoramic VR view with Project Morpheus
War Thunder's been on board the virtual reality train for a while now, given its compatibility with the Oculus Rift. Gaijin isn't stopping there, though, according to a new website posting that touts War Thunder on Sony's PlayStation 4 Project Morpheus VR prototype. There's no launch date just yet, but Gaijin promises "a 360 degree panoramic view of the battlefield."
War Thunder dev diary explains battle rank and more
Have you ever wondered what, exactly, the battle rank statistic governs in War Thunder? If so, Gaijin's latest dev diary video is worth watching. The clip is the first in a planned series called Developer Answers. It runs for nearly nine minutes and explains, in part, how BR is the average efficiency of a given vehicle in all battles as opposed to the efficiency of a given vehicle against another specific type. Various War Thunder devs explain how this relates to the WWII flight sim's matchmaking mechanics, too, and they also address several other questions pulled from community members and social media channels. You can watch the full clip after the cut.
Now you can get paid for making War Thunder content
Want to make a little real-world money from your War Thunder addiction? Now you can thanks to Gaijin's newly announced revenue-sharing initiative. In April of 2014, the devs released the War Thunder CDK which allows users to make their own content in the form of missions, locations, and vehicle skins. If any of these creations are selected by Gaijin for inclusion in the game's 1.43 update, the authors "will receive reasonable reward." You can read a more detailed FAQ on the initiative at the game's official website. We've also embedded a video dev diary with more details after the break. Elsewhere in the War Thunder universe, Gaijin is running a "Summertime Madness" promotion this weekend that features bonus RP gains and 30 percent vehicle discounts.
Star Conflict adds Invasion and Observer modes
Gaijin Entertainment's Star Conflict was updated recently with a new Invasion and Observer mode, as well as several UI and bug fixes as the game continues its beta testing (but is technically launched on Steam) this month. The space-based MMO's Invasion mode is described as a PvE and PvP game feature that allows players to join up against alien invaders. This includes quests, resource gathering, and crafting to work toward certain goals. Be sure to check out the video embedded after the cut below as well as the official patch notes for more information. [Thanks to Simon for the tip!]
War Thunder cross-platform play coming soon on PS4, PC
Gaijin Entertainment announced that cross-platform play is coming to the PlayStation 4 and PC versions of its competitive free-to-play military MMO War Thunder in Europe "very, very soon." The cross-platform play update will follow next week's release of War Thunder's Ground Forces Expansion, which adds a collection of playable tanks and other land-based units. War Thunder is the latest PlayStation 4 game to offer cross-platform gameplay compatibility, following up on last month's launch of the PS4 version of Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn. War Thunder will debut for the PlayStation 4 in North America on June 3. [Image: Gaijin Entertainment]
War Thunder coming to PS4 on June 3
War Thunder is bringing its brand of World War II plane and tank mayhem to the PlayStation 4 on June 3rd. That date also "signals the global release of [the] Ground Forces" expansion, according to a Gaijin press release. "Cross-platform compatibility is coming very, very soon," the company says. Click past the cut to read the full blurb.
War Thunder launches Ground Forces, complete with trailer
Have you ever sat down to play War Thunder and thought to yourself that it's missing something? Maybe you have. Maybe you've though that what it really needs is tanks. A lot of them. An entire world of them. They could call it something compelling, like... how about "Planet of Armored Vehicles?" Or Ground Forces, that would make sense too. Especially since that's what the team at Gaijin Entertainment did call it. Yes, the Ground Forces expansion is now live, allowing every player to take part in a landscape of mechanized weaponry. There's a launch trailer just past the cut celebrating the inclusion of this global set of armored artillery, complete with plenty of shots of planes being shot down by anti-air vehicles. So if you like the idea of taking the gameplay out of the air and onto the ground, the game has you covered now.
Celebrate the end of WWII by killing your enemies in War Thunder
Gaijin wants you to celebrate the "peaceful time" at the ending of World War II by blowing the crap out of enemy planes and tanks in War Thunder. May 7th marked the official end of WWII in Europe, while May 8th is remembered as Victory Day. To celebrate, Gaijin is holding its own Victory Day on May 10th and will be handing out extra Golden Eagles currency for match victories. Starting today, you can earn a victory banner decal and access to the Ground Forces beta test by notching 60 kills and six match victories over the next four days. Five random aircraft will also see their purchase prices heavily discounted and "all the famous aircraft of WWII" will boast 30 percent repair cost discounts. [Source: Gaijin press release]
War Thunder to be playable via OnLive's CloudLift sub service
Gaijin Entertainment has just announced that War Thunder, its WWII combat sim, will join games like Saints Row IV and Batman: Arkham City on OnLive's new subscription service, CloudLift. While the game itself will remain free-to-play, those who make use of CloudLift's services will be able to play the game from a toaster. OK, maybe not a toaster, but darn close: New and existing players of the game will be able to play their game wherever they choose, without needing to re-download the full game client. All progress and purchases are synced in the cloud so the player can move between devices seamlessly. Playing War Thunder through CloudLift also massively lowers the recommended PC or Mac specification while still delivering smooth 720p60 graphics and NVIDIA enhanced effects. The game can even be played on an Android tablet using a Bluetooth controller, making the game mobile for the first time. CloudLift normally costs $7.95 US per month but has a free trial for those who just want to check out how well it works. We've also got a video embedded below showing off the game as played on an Android tablet. [Source: OnLive/Gaijin press release]
War Thunder introduces closed beta tank events
Gaijin Entertainment posted today that it's launching tank events for War Thunder's closed beta participants. Prices of tanks and associated purchases have been slashed by 90% to facilitate this test phase; accordingly, Gaijin warns, everything will be wiped once again before the WWII combat sim's open beta begins. The studio also recently announced its intention to launch War Thunder in China in 2014 via Tencent and revealed its Elo-based rating system for squadron battles.
War Thunder's 1.39 update adds player-generated content and more
Gaijin has published War Thunder's 1.39 update. The patch introduces new aircraft including the F-82 Twin Mustang and the F-84 Thunderjet. There's also a new Kursk map and associated missions for War Thunder's various game modes. What else is new in 1.39? How about PvP ladders, progression adjustments, and AI behavior tweaks? The devs have also enabled Ground Forces tank battling functionality on the main game server, although currently said functionality is limited to closed beta testers and special events. Finally, the War Thunder CDK enables creative players to build missions, locations, and even unique planes, according to the 1.39 teaser trailer. Click past the cut to watch it!
War Thunder skips Xbox One due to cross-play hitch, Microsoft responds
Once it reaches the PS4, combat simulator War Thunder will feature cross-platform multiplayer between that user base and its existing PC audience. Unfortunately, Gaijin Entertainment CEO Anton Yudintsev told GameSpot that that cross-platform element is not allowed on the Xbox One, citing the limitation as the reason for War Thunder to pass the console by. "Microsoft is not allowing cross-play completely; which means [War Thunder] cannot be on Xbox One," Yudintsev told GameSpot. He explained that Microsoft requires a certification of game servers to guarantee a positive experience for players, a goal that Yudintsev says "isn't possible under the current circumstances." He added that Microsoft has a lot of "unspoken limitations" for free-to-play games, including a system of approval that's more based on whether the project's account manager likes the game, rather than a general set of rules. In contrast, Yudintsev stated that Sony is more open to free-to-play games, adding that the PS4 version of War Thunder is expected to support cross-play as early as next month. Microsoft responded to the story, stating that it works with developers interested in supporting cross-play between the Xbox One and PC to "ensure a great user experience." On the upside, Yudintsev complimented Microsoft's ID@Xbox initiative, adding that he hopes Microsoft's changing policies for indie games will allow Gaijin to eventually launch War Thunder on Xbox One. Update: This article has been corrected to reflect War Thunder's proper developer, Gaijin Entertainment rather than Gaijin Games. [Image: Gaijin Entertainment]
Base jumping sim Skydive: Proximity Flight lands on XBLA
If the only thing preventing you from leaping off a tall building is the fear that gravity might turn your insides into outsides, Gaijin Entertainment and Topware Interactive have a solution: Skydive: Proximity Flight. The game, which has just debuted on the Xbox Live Arcade at a price of $7, allows players to virtually strap themselves into a wingsuit and leap into the wild blue yonder. Thanks to Kinect functionality, virtual daredevils can use their bodies to maneuver through the game's "picturesque landscapes and majestic, real life locations," while those who master simply surviving the trip can turn their focus toward aerial stunts. While gracefully falling thousands of feet is the core draw of the game, Skydive: Proximity Flight offers races, descents guided by floating rings and freeform dives. While Skydive: Proximity Flight is currently only available on the Xbox 360, a PlayStation 3 version of the game is said to be in development. Additional information can be found on the game's website. [Image: Gaijin Entertainment]
