Find vehicle and mechanics changes, then open the official update for the full details.
Latest announcements
· Upcoming naval vehicle (not live)
IJN Takao announced for Japan’s naval tree in next major update
Gaijin announced IJN Takao as an upcoming Japanese Rank IV regular-tree heavy cruiser. It is scheduled for the next major update, not yet in the live game. This announcement is not a vehicle discount or a pre-order.
Takao will carry ten 203 mm main guns in five turrets, sixteen 610 mm torpedoes across four launchers, air-search radar and two seaplanes. Gaijin also lists sixty 25 mm anti-aircraft guns.
Improved magazine protection and speed support long-range gunnery. Vulnerabilities include its large, lightly protected superstructure, slow turret rotation and limited secondary-caliber armament.
Official staff confirmed regular tech-tree availability; specs can change before release. No live vehicle battle rating or profile has been altered.
New FCS, electrical and APU damage mechanics previewed for ground vehicles
Gaijin has previewed new ground-vehicle systems planned for the next major update. Distinct fire-control and electrical modules will become targetable weak points; some tanks with autoloaders will gain manual reload fallback, and vehicles with APUs will retain power after engine damage. These systems are not live in Update 2.59.0.92.
FCS damage will disable thermal/night vision, rangefinding and unmanned remote turrets without a manual option. Electrical system damage will disrupt the FCS, stabilizer, radar, warning gear and autoloader.
Only compatible autoloaders will support manual crew loading if the automatic rack is empty or damaged. The automatic rack will not refill while the crew is manually firing.
APUs will allow supported vehicles to keep electronics working despite engine damage; they can be disabled by enemy damage. Some air-defense vehicles require continuous APU operation.
F/A-18D and Q-5D premium aircraft pre-orders begin
Gaijin opened pre-orders for the US Rank VIII premium F/A-18D two-seat Hornet and Chinese Rank VI premium Q-5D strike aircraft for a forthcoming major update. They have not been released into the live vehicle roster, and these pre-orders are not discounts.
F/A-18D bundle: 30 days of Premium Account, 3,000 GE and pre-order cosmetics. Its provisional armament includes up to six AIM-120B missiles plus guided ground-attack weapons.
Q-5D bundle: 15 Premium days, 2,000 GE and pre-order cosmetics. Its proposed attack configuration includes 64 countermeasures and an RWR but no air-to-air missiles; it retains two 23 mm cannons.
Final equipment and BR values may change before launch. No live profile or vehicle rating has been altered.
· Upcoming aircraft and helicopter mechanic (not live)
Loadout-dependent Battle Ratings planned for selected aircraft
Gaijin previewed a custom-BR mechanic for selected aircraft and helicopters in the next major update. Players will be able to select eligible weapons and the associated Battle Rating; unlocking a stronger missile will not automatically force the aircraft into a higher BR. This system is not in Update 2.59.0.92.
Hangar weapon configurations will determine which alternative BRs are available; incompatible stores will be restricted in a chosen configuration.
Gaijin's Tiger UHT and MiG-21 Bison examples use illustrative missile/BR combinations, not final in-game values. Initial availability is limited to selected aircraft and helicopters.
Potential future adoption for ground vehicles is only being considered. ThunderHQ has not changed existing aircraft or helicopter profile BRs.
November Pages of History: eight tasks and Robert Tuck icon
The next Pages of History event runs November 1–30, 2026. Eight consecutive tasks award a trophy each, while completing all eight unlocks a Robert Roland Stanford Tuck profile icon. The event has been announced but has not yet started as of October 29.
Individual task trophies may yield boosters, backups, a Premium day or an eligible random camouflage; the specific reward is random.
Task periods and eligible vehicles are listed in Nickname → Achievements → Pages of History. Task periods begin at 11:00 GMT and end at 11:30 GMT on each final listed day; Assault mode does not qualify.
The icon can alternatively be purchased for GE until December 3 at 11:30 GMT. No discount or price was announced, so this is not a Sales & Deals offer.
14th Anniversary Gaijin Store pack sale: October 28–November 2
The second phase of the 14th Anniversary sale opened in the Gaijin.net Store on October 28 at 11:00 UTC and ends November 2 at 11:00 UTC. Selected premium vehicle bundles are discounted by 50%. This is a new pack sale, not an extension of the in-game SL/GE discounts that ended October 28.
Featured 50%-off packs: China ZTZ96B (Rank VII), USA A-10A Thunderbolt (Early) (Rank VI), USSR BMPT-72 (Rank VII), and Germany Alpha Jet A JaboG 41 (Rank VI). Each pack retains its listed Golden Eagles and Premium Account time.
Gaijin lists ZTZ96B and BMPT-72 packs at 35 each in its displayed store prices, with 2,500 GE and 20 Premium days. A-10A Early and Alpha Jet A are displayed at 30 each, with 2,000 GE and 15 Premium days. Currency and platform checkout prices may vary.
Gaijin says Vickers GBT155, AH-64DJP, and Northrop NF-5A packs will leave sale on all platforms after November 2. Their inclusion in the removal notice alone does not establish an individual discount.
Other discounted bundles may be available in the Gaijin Store; the announcement does not enumerate or price every offer. Open the official store link for the full current selection.
Sun City, American Desert and 12 weather presets getting visual updates
Gaijin previewed reworked Sun City and American Desert environments, alongside a twelve-preset weather overhaul planned for the next major update. These are not implemented changes as of the October 28 announcement.
Sun City expands into a connected coastline city with new building, street and vegetation detail. Glass and superficial wall finishes can break, but destructive scenery does not open new routes through buildings.
American Desert receives new buildings, landscaping and roadside details while retaining established tank routes and the moving train hazard.
All 12 weather presets receive revised cloud shapes/density and lighting, including clearer conditions, fog, rain and storms. Gaijin says the changes arrive with the next major update; no release date was confirmed.
Nuclear Escalation Simulator test runs October 27–29
Gaijin opened a limited Simulator Battles test of Nuclear Escalation from October 27 at 13:00 UTC to October 29 at 13:00 UTC. Find it under Events & Tournaments → Nuclear Escalation. This is a temporary test, not a permanent mode release.
The test uses Tropical Coast and Southeastern City with Simulator flight settings and marker rules; mission vehicles remain grouped by Battle Rating era.
Matchmaking bands are 8.7–9.7, 10.0–11.0, 11.3–13.0 and 13.3+. Rewards use Enduring Confrontation calculations.
The existing Realistic Battles mode remains separate. Players can test the Simulator variant and provide feedback during the announced window.
Gaijin announced the Halloween Ground and Air races for October 28 at 11:00 UTC through November 1 at 11:00 UTC. Ground racers use the M18 Witch and Air racers fly the Po-2 Night Witch. Official staff subsequently reported a race-start postponement, so confirm availability in Events before joining.
Ground: 750 rating points earns the Sinister Lands profile frame; 500 points grants a Witch’s Cauldron decoration reward.
Air: 750 rating points earns the Green Ghosts emblem. The top 1,000 pilots on the final leaderboard receive the USSR Po-2 within 48 hours after the event ends.
The Boo decal requires 3,000 mission points at Rank III or higher with at least 70% activity. Dead Man’s Chest and Witch’s Cauldron trophies are offered October 27–November 1; the announcement does not establish a discount or verified price.
Implemented Update 2.59.0.87: respawn, Object 416 and stability fixes
Update 2.59.0.87 was published October 27 and is an implemented client update. It fixes cases where a vehicle remained available to respawn after a crash or leave kill, including after backups or tournament respawn limits.
Object 416 machine-gun ammunition now displays correctly above the action bar.
Ray-traced ship shadows no longer disappear or flicker in the reported cases, and Linux black-screen problems with Ray Reconstruction are addressed.
A login-time crash affecting some macOS and Linux installations is fixed. This is an implemented patch, not a proposal. Full numbered official changelog now verified.
British Havoc Mk I returns for 490 GE through October 29
For the A-20’s first-flight anniversary, the British Rank II premium Havoc Mk I returns to the in-game premium aircraft tree at 490 Golden Eagles, a 30% discount, from October 26 at 09:00 GMT to October 29 at 09:00 GMT.
Find it under Great Britain → Aviation → Premium vehicles. The vehicle is obtainable only during the announced promotion.
It carries four forward-firing machine guns, two defensive machine guns and four 500 lb bombs. Check the in-game listing before buying.
The offer has a fixed October 29 deadline; it is not part of the longer-running 14th Anniversary vehicle sale.
Mistel 2 event starts October 28: earn Germany’s unusual bomber
The Dreams Come True: Mistel 2 event is scheduled for October 28 at 11:00 GMT through November 11 at 11:00 GMT. Air Battles players can unlock Germany’s Rank III premium Mistel 2, a Fw 190 A-8 paired with an explosive Ju 88 G-1, by completing six event stages.
Earn 35,000 mission points per stage in Air Battles at Rank III or higher; eligible Rank I–II event vehicles also count. Arcade, Realistic and Simulator Battles qualify.
Stages change every two days at 11:00 GMT. Stage five grants the Mistletoe profile frame, stage six the aircraft, and stage seven its camouflage; decals and trophies appear earlier.
Claim completed rewards manually from the Dreams Come True: Mistel category. Players may buy incomplete stages with Golden Eagles until November 14, but the official article does not specify a fixed general sale price.
The October 28 technical preview confirms that the released Ju 88 warhead aircraft continues toward its target under autopilot. Its Fw 190 A-8 carrier has no guns and must return to an airfield for another warhead in Realistic/Simulator Battles (Arcade can reload in flight).
Daily login streak freezes announced, not yet released
Gaijin has previewed a daily-login streak protection system for War Thunder and War Thunder Mobile. Once implemented, logging in for 12 days (not necessarily consecutively) will award one freeze point, with up to 30 stored per account.
Each freeze point will automatically cover one missed login day before a streak resets. Players will not need to activate it manually.
The shared system will count logins to either War Thunder or War Thunder Mobile, with rules for allocating freezes when both games have missed days. Freeze points will be free, not purchasable.
This is a work-in-progress announcement. Gaijin has not announced a release date; current login rules remain in effect until implementation.
October 2026 Battle Rating changes now implemented
The official October 29 Update 2.59.0.92 confirms that the planned October Battle Rating adjustments have taken effect. The October 23 forum proposal is the historical reference, while the numbered changelog confirms implementation.
Implemented patch: https://warthunder.com/en/game/changelog/current/1913. Verify exact changed vehicles and game-mode ratings using Gaijin's official plan/change list.
The implemented patch also fixes a bug that prevented Air Realistic Battles' per-team bomber limit from being applied.
ThunderHQ's archived vehicle BR values, individual profiles, BR histories and lineup advice remain unchanged pending separate vehicle-specific verification.
Gaijin has announced a DIRCM redesign for the next major update. Rather than behaving as a continuous wide-sector jammer, the system will point a narrow jamming beam toward detected incoming missile threats.
The upcoming implementation relies on missile-warning detection to cue the jammer. Individual emitters can engage a limited number of simultaneous threats, so multiple incoming missiles may overload protection.
The redesign also adds visible jammer movement and updated warning indications. Its effectiveness will depend on threat direction, detection and the number of active emitters.
This is a development preview, not a live mechanics change. ThunderHQ tactical guidance will be updated after release and in-game verification.
The UH-1C XM-30 is temporarily available in the US helicopter premium tree for 6,237 Golden Eagles, a 30% discount, from October 22 at 11:00 GMT through October 26 at 11:00 GMT.
The helicopter carries 30 mm XM140 cannons and can use rockets, machine guns, a 40 mm grenade launcher or BGM-71C Improved TOW missiles.
This is a time-limited shop offer, not a vehicle balance change. Check the in-game store before buying.
The American Rank VI premium Stingray II light tank has been announced for an upcoming major update. Pre-orders include 15 days of Premium Account, 2,000 Golden Eagles and preorder cosmetics. It is not yet available to play.
The announced vehicle has a stabilized 105 mm gun with DM33 APFSDS, thermal imaging, a laser rangefinder and improved protection compared with the Commando Stingray.
Expect mobile flanking and scouting rather than absorbing heavy tank fire. Gaijin notes that reverse speed is limited and specifications can change before release.
Battle rating, crew-station optics generations and finalized armor values have not been verified. A full Ground RB vehicle profile should wait for released, confirmed in-game data.
Update 2.59.0.78: countermeasures and vehicle fixes
The October 21 patch adjusts countermeasure controls for several Gripens, changes F-111A countermeasure caliber, adds J-16 night vision and fixes F-14D HUD text when AIM-54A is selected.
JAS39A, JAS39C (UK), JAS39EBS HU C (Italy) and JAS39C (Japan) now have separate countermeasure launch from fuselage-mounted dispensers.
Ground vehicles: M40A1 recoilless rifle and derivative ammunition is corrected from 106 mm to 105 mm. Consult the official changelog for the full list.
This is an implemented update. The numbered official changelog and the dedicated ThunderHQ patch page are available.
It’s fixed! №119: shadows, recycling and preset improvements
The latest fix roundup covers graphics corrections and several interface improvements released over recent updates.
Shadow fixes address cockpit flicker, distant terrain shadows and missing or flickering shadows when switching to tank sights.
Item recycling received display and quantity fixes. Copied vehicle presets now appear beside the original, and preset display filters also apply inside the lineup menu.
This is a roundup of implemented fixes across Updates 2.59.0.68 through 2.59.0.78, rather than another new patch version.
British and Canadian naval discounts: October 21–26
War Thunder is running limited-time British and Canadian naval offers. The HMS Nelson pack is 30% off through October 24 at 11:00 GMT. HMCS Haida is temporarily available for 3,416 GE through October 24 at 13:00 GMT.
HMS Belfast and HMS Iron Duke are 30% off from October 21 at 11:00 GMT through October 24 at 11:00 GMT. Fairmile D (5001) is discounted through October 26 at 12:00 GMT.
Earn 3,000 mission points using British Rank III or higher naval vessels to claim the Trafalgar commemorative decal by October 24 at 11:00 GMT. Collect the reward manually.
HMCS Haida is a separate Niobe Day offer. Official details: https://warthunder.com/en/news/10270-shop-honoring-the-canadian-navy-with-a-discount-on-hmcs-haida-on-niobe-day-en. Check the official announcements and in-game store before buying.
War Thunder has announced a redesigned CCRP automatic bomb-release system for the next major update. It is not part of the October 20 minor patch and is not live yet.
Automatic release will have a separate on-screen control, avoiding conflicts with manual bomb release while a target point is designated.
The new aiming display shows target direction, course deviation and time to release. Toss bombing will have a more readable guidance indicator.
For Nuclear Escalation, these are upcoming controls: continue using the current in-game release method until the major update arrives.
Steel Fury runs from October 21, 2026 at 12:00 GMT to January 20, 2027 at 12:00 GMT. Its new premium rewards are Germany’s Rank IV Jagdpanther G2 tank destroyer and Rank III S-706 torpedo boat.
The standard pass costs 2,000 Golden Eagles. The 2,500 GE version includes 150 progress points, equivalent to 15 levels. Rewards still require progression.
Z4 Zerstörer and FR-1 Fireball enter the Warbond Shop for the first time, alongside Pz.IV G (Italy), T-126, MGB-75 and Ki-44-II Otsu.
Open the Battle Pass from the hangar. Check reward levels, shop access and Special Task medal requirements in-game before spending.
Gaijin has opened preorders for HMS Duke of York, a British Rank VI premium battleship arriving in the next major update. The announced armament includes ten 356 mm main guns and proximity-fuzed HE for the 133 mm secondary battery.
The pack includes the ship, 30 days of Premium Account and 3,000 Golden Eagles. Preorder bonuses are The King’s Speech title, White Rose of York decal and Flag of York.
The ship is not playable yet. Specifications may change before release; check the official announcement and your platform’s store for current pricing and availability.
The 2026 WTCS Pro League Grand Finals run across three weekends from October 23 to November 8, with Challenger League finals following in November. Gaijin has also confirmed official Twitch Drops during Pro League streams and reruns.
Pro League: Air October 23–25; Ground October 30–November 1; Mixed November 6–8. Challenger League: November 13–15, 20–22 and 27–29.
Watch the official War Thunder Esports Twitch broadcasts with your Twitch and Gaijin accounts linked. Eligible English-channel reruns Monday through Wednesday also count toward rewards.
First weekend: earn the special Bf 109 E-3 (Germany) at 10 hours; second weekend: special BT-7M (USSR) at 10 hours. Each weekend also offers boosters, premium time and a vehicle camouflage.
Third weekend: earn three vehicle camouflages at 4, 6 and 8 hours, and Tricolor Smoke at 10 hours. See the official rewards announcement: https://warthunder.com/en/news/10275-esports-watch-the-2026-grand-finals-and-earn-tricolor-smoke-more-twitch-drops-en.
Slow neutral turning was corrected on affected Leopard, Strv, Type 90, EMBT, Vickers Mk.7 and ItPsV Leopard variants after the regenerative-steering test.
Locations and missions
Air Superiority Mozdok was taken out of rotation temporarily while a bug is fixed.
The wing-root turrets on H8K2 and H8K3 can fire again.
Nuclear Escalation
SAM engagement of low targets over water and target-priority problems were fixed. S-75 and HAWK systems switch off their radars when threatened by anti-radiation missiles at medium or long range.
Graphics
Ray-traced shadow flickering on aircraft was fixed.
Bomber collision damage and penetration of aircraft skin were revised. Camera settings were corrected for the F-4E AUP targeting pod and AGM-65D/G seekers.
Locations and missions
Southeastern City received a terrain and scenery rework.
Interface
Fixes cover preset-name editing, penetration graphs, missing shells in Protection Analysis and several vehicle equipment displays.
