Oh no, it's going to pull me back in isn't it? War Thunder is finally adding infantry combat to its roster of war games in a future update. Testing is due to begin this month, being spread across stages for an eventual full roll-out during next year as the mode is still under development.
Interestingly, they're taking some elements from another game they publish called Enlisted, with you controlling a squad. They said you control a single soldier, but you have "full tactical control over the entire squad" and they will automatically follow you and assist in all combat situations.
It will come with a new location that mixes infantry, ground vehicles and aircraft set in Eastern Europe. During the closed beta there will only be a Domination mode, with soldiers and vehicles battling for control over a few specific points. There will also be specific set squads to pick during the beta.
Direct Link
They said the beta will be supported across "Windows, Linux and Mac, as well as PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles".
See the full details in the announcement. You can sign up for testing at this link.
If they get this right, I suspect it will swell the War Thunder numbers significantly!! We'll end up with videos like that @GnarSasquatch guy on Arma Reforger!
Wasn't this supposed to be an April Fool's Day joke?
BUT I did think it would be cool, however, hmm. Is everyone going to be RPG soldiers? :)
I do hope they have suitable options for each tier because WW1/2 tanks fighting modern infantry, yeah not a good idea!
I still have WarThunder installed, planned to return to it for a little bit now and again, maybe I'll check this update out.
ALSO doesn't Gaijin have a FPS WW2 game already? guessing that one is more focused on infantry thought.
Last edited by Gerarderloper on 10 Dec 2025 at 12:37 am UTC
Quoting: Tethys84I've heard nothing but bad things about this game. That the monetization is predatory, and that it's totally a P2W game. I see this and World of Warships get mentioned together a lot as games to avoid.Must have been a WoT player...
I have been playing WT for 11 years now (exclusively on Linux) and can assure you that it is anything but P2W*. Investing real money reduces the grind considerably. That's pretty much all there is. As far as monetization goes: I do have a premium account which you get twice a year for a 50% discount, which comes then down to about 30 Euros per year. That's it. Every now and then I might buy a premium vehicle (again when there is a sale).
If you don't want to invest any money stick to tiers I to IV and just have a good time. At these stages the grind is easy to endure.
- As for P2W: Sales season can be horrible. Your team can be full of noobs in their shiny premium vehicles which they somehow believe are "better" (which they rarely are), only to get slaughtered by experienced players already accustomed to the peculiarities of high tier battles.
Last edited by Tuxee on 10 Dec 2025 at 10:04 am UTC
Quoting: Tethys84I've heard nothing but bad things about this game. That the monetization is predatory, and that it's totally a P2W game. I see this and World of Warships get mentioned together a lot as games to avoid.It's not as bad as some, predatory? meh, however it is hard to earn DECENT returns (lions) without premium account status. Can make certain tiers and vehicles nothing but a waste to play. (because their repair or ammo cost outstrips returns)
I would say its quite rough for NEW comers because they have gradually made it MUCH more grinding over the decade then how it was originality. I mean I basically unlocked everything up to tier5 at one point but now I would probably not be able to unlock a single tier5 unless I played 10hrs a day 7 days a week, lol
Last edited by Gerarderloper on 10 Dec 2025 at 3:42 pm UTC
Quoting: Tethys84I've heard nothing but bad things about this game. That the monetization is predatory, and that it's totally a P2W game. I see this and World of Warships get mentioned together a lot as games to avoid.I, too, have been playing WT for more than a decade. I'm essentially a free(-loader) player 😄. And to a new player I wouldn't actually recommend it - unless you are into games with military vehicle simulation (especially non-modern), online pvp or high skill ceiling.
It is more predatory ("modern game monetization culture") than anything else I happen to play. If Fortnite, Roblox and other top mainstream games are too unethical or predatory for you, this is too, probably 🤷♀️
As for P2W: There are many small advantages to someone who pays. While you technically can get everything for free with enough grind, I'm nearing 2.5k hours in the game and this year I've had at least a full work-week of playing, every week, for more than 6 mo (unemployed 💀) and I still have zero max-level crews and only 2 bushes. I unlocked my first top-tier vehicle a few days ago 😂. But I have gotten very good at the game. Even though (high-)paying players have advantages over me - strategy and skill matters way more. The game has a very high skill-ceiling (in many situations). Very few premium vehicles are actually slightly "broken". And given enough years, luck, and grind, even those may be attained 💀.
So if it is both predatory, has many small P2W mechanics, and impossibly long grind - why as a person with high intelligence and morals [citation needed] have I played this games for more than 10 years? I enjoy the game play and I don't care about unlocking any of the high tier vehicles (more modern vehicles). As a game without skill-based match-making - I can adjust the level of challenge (with vehicle line-up tiers) depending on how tired I'm feeling or how desperately I need to feel competent at something. And even then any opponent might be highly capable or just get lucky - that really keeps me on my toes and coming back for it.
TL;DR: 10/10 - would not recommend. Unless (see above).
PS: if anyone wants to play WT GRB or GSB together in EU/CIS, add me: Marder III H
Last edited by chr on 11 Dec 2025 at 9:38 pm UTC




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