War Thunder — Realistic Military Vehicles Online Combat Game for PC, Xbox and PlayStation. Play for Free News

Watch the 2026 Grand Finals and Earn Tricolor Smoke & More Twitch Drops!

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.

The He 219 A-7 Returns with a Discount for the Anniversary of its First Flight!

Robert Lusser, who had worked alongside Willy Messerschmitt on the legendary Bf 109, later moved to the Heinkel design bureau, where he contributed to the development of the early jet-powered He 280 and the He 219 night fighter. The latter made its maiden flight on November 6th 1942. This was the final aircraft Lusser worked on. The He 219 failed to gain favor with the Reich Aviation Ministry and was produced in only limited numbers, with a total of just 268 units built.

F-15EX and F-15IA Ra’am: The Eagle’s Shadow!

Up to 12 active radar-homing missiles, up to 22 precision-guided bombs, new engines, an increased supply of countermeasures, and the most advanced air-to-surface weaponry — this is the F-15EX, the most sophisticated aircraft in its series!

Eagle’s Shadow: New Visual Effects!

Today we’re showing you a selection of the most interesting visual effects coming in the Eagle’s Shadow major update!

Fulmar Mk.II: A Fleeting Fleet Fighter

Today we’re taking a look at the British Fulmar fighter! This classic aircraft will be joining the research tree in the Eagle’s Shadow major update.

Imperator Nikolai I: An Autocrat at Sea

The Imperator Nikolai I is a new battleship for the USSR/Russian navy, featuring a linear turret arrangement, powerful guns, and excellent protection!

A Decal Trophy and Discounts for Italy’s National Unity and Armed Forces Day!

Every year on November 4th, Italy celebrates National Unity and Armed Forces Day. The date marks the surrender of Austria-Hungary in the First World War, which allowed Italy to incorporate Trento and Trieste, thereby completing its unification. This holiday has been celebrated since 1919, although it has not been a public holiday since 1977.

Pre-orders: Olifant Mk.1B Optimering and JAS39-5

The South African Olifant Optimering tank and a pre-production variant of the Gripen are now available as pre-order packs! Today we’ll be telling you a bit more about them.

NVIDIA DLSS 5 Is Coming to War Thunder!

The most advanced upscaling and frame-generation technology with neural rendering is arriving in War Thunder, and it’s a game-changer.

Su-15TM: Aerial Border Guard

The Su-15TM is the USSR’s most widely produced jet interceptor, coming to the game in the next major update!

Cluster Bombs in Air Battles!

Hey everyone! That’s right, cluster bombs are coming to War Thunder Air Battles! In today’s dev blog, we’ll go over what they are and what they’re used for. Let’s dive in!

Leopard 2A8: A Coveted Trophy

Introducing the Leopard 2A8, Europe’s most advanced tank and the first mass-produced Leo equipped with an active protection system!

Special

War Thunder is 14 Years Old: Join the Celebration!

War Thunder opened its doors to everyone on November 1st 2012, the day the game’s Open Beta test began. Thanks to everyone who has stayed with us ever since, as well as everyone who has joined us over the past 14 years. Come celebrate the game’s birthday with us! We have the Maus tank, a commemorative decal, in-game store discounts and the remarkable Mistel 2 bomber waiting for you.

Improvements to Tank Mobility Mechanics: New Steering Mechanisms and Engine Refinements

Hi everyone! We’re continuing to refine mechanics related to vehicle mobility. Some of these will significantly alter how vehicles behave, making them more effective in certain situations while less so in others. We’ll introduce these on the dev server so that you can try them out. Other mechanics will improve vehicle performance regardless of the situation, and we plan to release these alongside the Eagle’s Shadow major update. Let’s dive in.

"Eagle's Shadow" Update Trailer!

Introducing the next major update trailer for War Thunder: Eagle's Shadow!

New Modules for Ground Vehicles!

In today’s dev blog, we’re talking about new modules and features for ground vehicles!

Pre-orders: F/A-18D and Q-5D

Today we’re starting pre-orders for the American two-seater Hornet and the Chinese Q-5D attack jet aircraft!

Custom Battle Rating for Aircraft: More Freedom For Your Vehicles!

Introducing custom Battle Ratings: a new mechanic where researching specific modifications unlocks additional Battle Rating options for the same vehicle. You decide which configuration to take into battle!