War Thunder Under Fire From Players Ahead of 10th Anniversary

Gaijin Entertainment’s popular military vehicle MMO War Thunder is currently facing a wave of negative ‘review bomb’ feedback from frustrated fans, just ahead of its 10-year anniversary celebrations.

The backlash began earlier this month after Gaijin implemented several controversial changes to the in-game economy. These tweaks significantly reduced the amount of Silver Lions currency and Research Points that players could earn through normal gameplay. The developer also lowered rewards for first-win bonuses and daily tasks.

Players reacting to the economic changes have left over 65,000 negative Steam reviews for War Thunder in less than two weeks, accounting for a massive spike in the game’s rating. Many veterans claim they can no longer afford to repair or research new vehicles after matches without spending real-world money.

War Thunder’s Changes Have Players Up in Arms

While Gaijin promised to cancel the economy changes, some players were frustrated that a full reversal did not happen immediately. The developer plans to make adjustments in a Summer update but wants more time to undergo a transparent design process.

In the meantime, the negative reviews raise concerns about War Thunder’s future ahead of its 10th anniversary and after recent launches on PlayStation and Xbox consoles. While Gaijin says the game’s size prevents rushed changes, many players are calling for immediate tweaks to make the free-to-play model fairer.

The developer has asked for fan feedback through an online survey open until May 25th. How Gaijin responds to the growing discontent among its player base will be crucial for War Thunder’s continued success moving forward. The ‘review bomb’ serves as a warning that drastic economic changes without proper testing or communication could alienate the loyal fan base that has supported the game for a decade.

War Thunder Fans Launch Review Bomb Campaign Against Gaijin

In response, fans have left over 65,000 negative reviews on Steam in less than two weeks, overwhelming the game’s overall positive rating. Many veteran players say the economy changes have made the free-to-play model overly restrictive.

While Gaijin promised to cancel the original changes, some players were upset that a full reversal did not happen immediately. The developer plans to implement adjusted economy tweaks in a future summer update after more transparency and feedback.

Can War Thunder Survive Fan Revolt Ahead of 10th Anniversary?

The negative reviews raise concerns about War Thunder’s future just before its upcoming 10th anniversary celebration. How Gaijin responds to player demands for a fairer economy will be crucial to repairing the damage done to its reputation.

Gaijin has asked fans for feedback through an online survey open until May 25th. But many players continue to call for immediate economy changes to make the free-to-play model more generous. How the developer balances its vision with fan demands will determine whether the review bomb is a blip – or a breaking point.

War Thunder Review- A Great But Grueling Free-To-Play MMO

War Thunder is a military vehicle-based MMO developed by Gaijin Entertainment that realistically recreates air, land and sea combat from the mid-20th century to modern day. With over 2000 historically accurate playables across more 10 tech trees, War Thunder boasts one of the largest collections of combat vehicles in any game.

The Good:

• Incredibly detailed and realistic recreations of thousands of historical planes, tanks and ships from many nations and eras.
• Captures the awe and excitement of operating massive military machinery. Gunfire, explosions and jet engine sounds are crisp and immersive.
• Robust combined arms gameplay with AI and PvP modes across massive sandbox maps. Players can choose between realistic or arcaded control schemes.
• Regular events and updates keep adding new content, vehicles and mechanics to master.
• Free-to-play but surprisingly fair – skilled players can earn most rewards through normal gameplay, though it requires a substantial time investment.

The Bad:

• Exceptionally grindy by free-to-play standards. Progressing through even one tech tree requires hundreds of hours, pushing players to buy premium time and currency.
• Some vehicles are overpowered or undertiered, disrupting the balance of certain tiers. Gaijin does make tuning changes periodically but slow to act at times.
• Bugs and glitches and hackers can be frustrating, though Gaijin is generally quick to ban offenders and fix major issues.
• Late-game vehicles become costly in terms of both time and in-game currency to research and operate.

In summary, War Thunder delivers an unmatched trial by fire in piloting and commanding some the world’s most storied military machines. But the exceptional breadth of content comes at the cost of an exceptionally punishing grind, aimed at extracting real money from all but the most dedicated players. While the core MMO combat retains its heart-pounding thrills a decade on, War Thunder’s restrictive free-to-play economy keeps it from truly achieving greatness.

I give War Thunder an 8/10. The epic scale, historical authenticity and intense action are difficult to fault, but the grind eventually wears you down regardless of skill. New players beware – this MMO is massive, but it doesn’t play fair.

What is War Thunder review bombing?

War Thunder recently received over 65,000 negative reviews on Steam in a short period, primarily due to frustration with recent economy changes. This large influx of negative reviews is known as a “review bomb.”

Why are players review bombing War Thunder?

Players are upset about changes Gaijin made in May 2022 that significantly reduced the amount of in-game currency players can earn. This makes it harder to research and purchase new vehicles without spending real money. Many feel the free-to-play economy has become overly restrictive.

Did Gaijin Entertainment reverse the economy changes?

Gaijin initially promised to cancel the controversial economy changes but only plans to make adjustments in a summer update. Some players were unhappy that a full immediate reversal did not occur. This frustrated response has contributed to the review bombing campaign.

What do players want changed in War Thunder?

Many players are calling for immediate economy tweaks to make the free-to-play model more generous. This includes earning more currency through normal gameplay, reducing vehicle research costs, and lowering repair costs. Players want changes that lessen the grind and make progress less dependent on spending real money.

How is Gaijin Entertainment responding?

Gaijin has asked players for feedback through an online survey, but some players feel this is insufficient. The developer maintains that the size and complexity of War Thunder prevents rushed changes. How Gaijin balances its vision with fan demands will determine if the review bombing continues.

What impact is the review bombing having?

The massive number of negative reviews has severely impacted War Thunder’s overall rating, raising questions about its future ahead of upcoming milestones like its 10th anniversary. The review bomb serves as a warning to Gaijin that drastic economic changes without proper communication could further alienate fans.